Peer-reviewed article
Nutritional and Economic Potential of Needle Cuttlefish (Sepia aculeata): Unlocking an Underutilized Seafood Resource in Bangladesh
Reshadul Islam, Degonto Islam, Zobaer Masum, Nargis Akter, Sharmin Akhter Munne et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study analysed the nutrient content, heavy metals and cost of needle cuttlefish (Sepia aculeata), an under-used seafood in Bangladesh. It tested 172 samples from Cox's Bazar. The edible part contained protein and healthy omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA), and heavy metals were below permitted limits. The authors calculated that a 100 g serving could provide about 70.7–70.9% of the daily n-3 LC-PUFA requirement for children aged 6–23 months. Per unit of protein and omega-3 fat, cuttlefish was cheaper than prawn, shrimp, lobster and mud crab.
Key points
- Edible portions made up 47.60% of body weight; non-edible portions 52.40%.
- Edible portions contained 11.69–11.76% protein and 1.79–1.81% lipid, with DHA at 20.4–21.6% and EPA at 10.4–11.1% of total fatty acids.
- Arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead in edible portions were below maximum permissible limits.
- A 100 g serving could provide 70.70–70.89% of the daily n-3 LC-PUFA requirement for children aged 6–23 months.
- Cuttlefish supplied protein at 5.0- to 23.5-fold lower cost and n-3 LC-PUFA at about 57.8- to 228.8-fold lower cost than the other seafood assessed.
Limitations
This is a laboratory and cost analysis of seafood samples. It did not feed the product to children or measure any child health outcomes, so the benefit for children is a calculation based on nutrient content. The document does not say how samples varied by season or how available cuttlefish is to poor households.
Abstract
Needle cuttlefish ( Sepia aculeata ), an abundant yet underutilized cephalopod species in Bangladesh, remains a non-conventional seafood resource with limited nutritional information. This study evaluated the proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid composition, micronutrients, and heavy metals of both edible and non-edible portions of S. aculeata , while recommended nutrient intake (RNI) contribution and economic efficiency were assessed using edible portions only. A total of 172 samples were collected from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Edible portions accounted for 47.60% of total body weight, while non-edible portions constituted 52.40%. Edible portions contained appreciable protein (11.69–11.76%) and lipid (1.79–1.81%) levels, with total amino acids ranging from 12.36 to 12.92 g/100 g and favorable EAA/NEAA ratios (0.88–1.03). The fatty acid profile was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (46.1–48.6% of total fatty acids), particularly EPA (10.4–11.1%) and DHA (20.4–21.6%), with desirable PUFA/SFA (1.20–1.34) and n-3/n-6 (2.37–3.09) ratios. Heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, and Pb) in edible portions were below maximum permissible limits. Non-edible portions contained significantly higher concentrations of calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium than edible portions, indicating potential for value-added utilization. A 100 g serving could provide 70.70–70.89% of the daily n-3 LC-PUFA requirement for children aged 6–23 months. Affordability analysis showed that needle cuttlefish supplied protein at 5.0- to 23.5-fold lower cost and n-3 LC-PUFA at approximately 57.8- to 228.8-fold lower cost than the other seafood species assessed (prawn, shrimp, lobster, and mud crab); for zinc, cuttlefish was cheaper than prawn, shrimp, and lobster (up to 1.32-fold), though mud crab had a marginally lower cost. These findings indicate that S. aculeata is a rich source of n-3 LC-PUFAs, as well as a safe and cost-effective seafood resource with potential to improve food and nutrition security in Bangladesh.