Examination of the nutritional value of four bivalves species from Bizerte lagoon

Abstract

Bivalves are known as a healthy nutrition choice due to the highest amounts of nutrients comprising fatty acids mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The study is conducted to provide information about the nutritional qualities of four bivalves species (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Cerastoderma edulis, Venus verrucosa and Lithophaga lithophaga) of great commercial value collected from Bizerte lagoon during spring season. The edibility percent, condition index, protein, lipid, moisture, glycogen, fatty acids and nutritional values indices have been also determined. According to our results, high edibility percent and condition index were observed in all investigated bivalves. The results showed that all bivalves could be considered dietary food due to their important contents of proteins, lipid, essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and nutritional quality. The significant contents of the biochemical and fatty acid compositions observed in the present study make L. lithophaga and M. galloprovincialis more appropriate for consumers’ health. This work will be useful for consumers and an impressive marketing tool for shellfishing farmers.