Fatty Acid Profiles of Wild Anadara granosa (Blood Clam) and Farmed Penaeus vannamei (Shrimp) with Reference to Human Nutrition and Functional Health Benefits

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of the fatty acid composition in two economically important seafood species: the wild blood clam Anadara granosa collected from the east coast of India and the farmed Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei, collected from the culture ponds of India. Lipids were extracted and purified using column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography (TLC), followed by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiling through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 12 fatty acids were identified in A. granosa and 8 in P. vannamei, including saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. A. granosa exhibited significantly higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid (C18:2) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6), while P. vannamei was characterized by a greater proportion of oleic acid (C18:1), a monounsaturated fatty acid associated with cardiovascular health benefits. Statistical analysis revealed significant interspecies differences (p < 0.05) in several key fatty acids, notably in DHA (1.14% in A. granosa, absent in P. vannamei) and oleic acid (17.32% in P. vannamei). These findings highlight the nutritional superiority of A. granosa in terms of essential fatty acid content and support its potential as a cost-effective, health-promoting alternative to shrimp in human diets.