The composition and approximate concentrations of three trace metals-iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg)-of 160 samples of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (African river prawn) from Badagry creek were investigated for four months across the rainy and dry seasons. Length and weight of the prawns varied from 15.0cm-17.6cm and 72.76g-130.65g respectively. The approximate analysis was performed in triplicates and the collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance and T-test. Mean values for protein were 52.18±1.11% (rain) and 43.13±1.13% (dry); lipids were 9.65±0.65% (rain) and 3.50±0.55% (dry); ash were 23.39±1.06% (rain) and 12.00±1.11% (dry); crude fibre were 9.15±0.42% (rain) and 9.35±6.08% (dry); moisture content were 4.08±0.44% (rain) and 31.25±5.23% (dry), and carbohydrate were 1.58±0.07% (rain) and 1.35±0.17% (dry). Protein, ash, moisture and lipids values at different seasons were significantly different (p = 0.05). The trace metal values of the species were within standard recommended range set by World Health Organization. The mean values for zinc (Zn) were 5.10±0.64 (rain) and 5.16±0.27 (dry) mg/100g; magnesium (Mg)-20.00±1.02 (rain) and 18.00±1.10 (dry) mg/100g and iron (Fe)-3.03±0.40 (rain) and 2.59±0.39 (dry) mg/100g. There was no significant difference of Zn and Fe contents between seasons (p = 0.05), but the values for magnesium were significantly different (p = 0.05). This study indicated that, Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, from Badagry creek could be very useful as an alternative source of high-quality protein, energy and mineral supply for human consumption and even for feed formulation for animals because they contain considerable amount of trace metals.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.