Nutritional Evaluation Of Freshwater Bivalve, Lamellidens Spp. From The Upper Brahmaputra Basin, Assam With Special Reference To Dietary Essential Amino Acids, Omega Fatty Acids And Minerals

Aim: Lamellidens (Unionidae: Bivalvia) or Indian pond mussel is very popular as food among many natives of Assam and Northeast India. However, due to the lack of systematic studies the nutritional significance and utility of Lamellidens spp. could not be validated for human consumption. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the nutritional values of Lamellidens spp. of this region.Methodology: Live samples were collected from the Upper Brahmaputra basin of Assam, India. Edible tissues were dissected and amino acid, fatty acid and mineral content were analyzed with HPLC Breeze 2 system, GC/GC-MS and ICP-AES, respectively.Results: Based on the current investigation, Lamellidens spp. were found to be rich in protein with dietary essential amino acids and taste active amino acids viz., glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, proline and arginine. The tissues of Lamellidens spp. also contained medium-chain fatty acids, long-chain saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, including high ratio of dietary essential omega-3 (omega-3) and omega-6 (omega-6) fatty acids with certain variations among the species. The mineral analysis showed that Lamellidens spp. were a good source of macro and trace elements for human consumption, which can fulfil more than 25% recommended dietary allowance of minerals. No selected heavy metal was detected in the tissues of Lamellidens spp.Interpretation: From the nutritional analysis it was evident that Lamellidens spp. were good source of protein, fatty acids and minerals as a rich supplement of human nutrition as compared to other commercial meat sources. Through the development of culture protocol, a sustainable approach could be adopted to exploit the aquatic resource to provide food security for the rural people in the region.