Characteristics of Minerals and Vitamin B12 by Tiger Snails, Shellfish Snow, Meretrix Meretrix

Abstract

Mineral and vitamin B12 are essential nutrients found in mollusks. The aimed study to determined the chemical composition, mineral and vitamin B12 levels in the tiger snails (Babylonia spirata L.), shellfish snow (Pholas dactylus L.), and meretrix meretrix (Meretrix meretrix L.) which represents by catched. Mineral content was determined by AAS (Atomic Absorption spectro photometry), whereas vitamin B12 was determined by HPLC method (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Protein the most abundant components in all three samples, followed by carbohydrates, ash, and fat. Proximate levels in tiger snails meat was higher than the shelfish snow and meretrix meretrix. The highed content in all three samples was sodium, followed by potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. Tiger snails have mineral content at similar amount. Shellfish snow contains at fairly good macro minerals and minerals containing iron and zinc which greater than the meretrix meretrix and tiger snails. Selenium was not detected in all three samples. Tiger snails contain vitamin B12 for 16.58 μg/l00g, meretrix meretrix 13.74 μg/100g, and shelfiss snow 5.04 μg/100g. Tiger snails, shelfish snow, and meretrix meretrix can be a good source of minerals and vitamin B12.