Proximate composition and amino acid profiles of sea cucumbers collected at Nam Du Island, Kien Giang province, Vietnam
10/01/23 01:28PM
Nguyen, Thi N A; Ly, Van K; Tran, Dinh D. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation & Legislation; Cluj-Napoca Vol. 15, Iss. 5, (Oct 2022): 2551-2559.
Abstract: Within the framework of the project to investigate the current status of artisanal sea cucumber fishing and the composition of species in Nam Du Island, Kien Giang Province, the nutritional values of seven common species of sea cucumbers (Holothuria atra, H. leucospilota, H. scabra, Stichopus hermanni, S. horren, S. monotuberculatus and S. variegatus) were assessed in this study. The results showed that the proximate composition and amino acid profiles of these sea cucumbers studied greatly varied among species. Average contents fluctuated as follows: moisture from 87.5 to 92.3%, crude protein from 41.3 to 55.3%, crude lipid from 0.93 to 3.01%, ash from 18.9 to 37.1%, fiber from 0.32 to 0.48%, carbohydrates from 4.79 to 31.3%, calcium from 0.92 to 4.58% and phosphorus from 0.35 to 1.06% of dry weight. Overall, all species of sea cucumbers analyzed have high protein contents and low lipid levels. Moreover, total essential amino acid (AA), non-essential AA and total AA were in the ranges of 6.91-8.94%, 15.65-19.86%, and 23.11-28.80% of dry weight, respectively, of which H. scabra and H. leucospilota contained significantly higher levels of essential AA than other species. These two species are recommended as the healthiest food for human consumption.
