Deep-sea mud shrimp and shovel-nosed lobster from the Arabian Sea as prospective sources of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

Fatty acid profile of deep-sea mud shrimp (Solenocera hextii) and shovel-nosed lobster (Thenus unimaculatus) harvested from south-west coast (Arabian Sea) of India were evaluated and compared. Palmitic and oleic acids were the principle saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, respectively in lobster and shrimp species. T. unimaculatus contained greater concentrations of C20-22 n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Higher n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio (greater than 4) in addition to considerably greater polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid (>1.2) and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio (>2) were recorded in shovel-nosed lobster compared to the mud shrimp. Lesser thrombogenicity (<= 0.5) and atherogenicity (<1.0) indices recognised T. unimaculatus as a desirable marine species for human nutrition.