Nutritional Value of Female Eriocheir sinensis from Three Different Habitats in the Lower Reach of the Yangtze River with a Special Emphasis on Lipid Quality

The cultural habitat of Eriocheir sinensis is a crucial factor influencing its nutritional quality. This study investigated and compared the nutritional value of three edible parts (hepatopancreas, gonads, and muscle) of the female Eriocheir sinensis from three different habitats in the lower reach of the Yangtze River, with a special emphasis on lipid compounds. In addition to tissue indices, proximate composition, energy con-tent, lipid classes and fatty acid profile, eight lipid quality indices were proposed to evaluate the lipid nutritional quality based on their fatty acid composition. The result indicated that Eriocheir sinensis of three different habitats were all in good develop-ment condition. There were no significant differences in the hepatopancreas index (HIS), gonadosomatic index (GSI) and total edible yield (TEY) among the three habi-tats, except that muscle index (MI) was significantly higher in L-crabs and E-crabs compared to P-crabs. The highest protein content was found in the gonads, while the hepatopancreas had the highest crude lipids content. Concerning lipid classes, hepatopancreas was dominated by triglycerides and muscle was predominated by phospholipids, whereas phospholipids and triglycerides were predominant in equal amounts approximately in the gonads. Eriocheir sinensis from three different habitats showed good nutritional quality suitable for human dietary needs. Taking eight lipid quality indices into account together, the three major edible tissues of Eriocheir sinensis from the estuarine habitat had the highest nutrient value, followed by hepatopancreas from the pond habitat. Current research will provide basic nutritional data for con-sumers when purchasing Eriocheir sinensis and theoretical insights into how habitats affect the nutritional composition.