Nutrient loss, caused by lipid oxidation and hydrolysis, occurs in the scallop adductor muscle during refrigerated storage. To retard this process, chitosan coating with inclusion of antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) and potassium sorbate (PS) were used. Results indicated the coatings employed could significantly inhibit the increases in total number of colonies, total volatile basic nitrogen, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, lipase activity and free fatty acid content as well as the decrease in contents of triacylglycerols, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the scallop adductor muscle during refrigerated storage. After 8 days, the contents of PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexenoic acid in the control adductor muscle decreased by 46.91, 47.46 and 45.50%, respectively, while the corresponding values were 35.93-36.68, 34.01-36.45 and 32.73-37.50%, respectively, for AOB- and PS-coated adductor muscles. Therefore, chitosan coatings incorporated with AOB and PS could retard nutrient loss by inhibiting lipid oxidation and hydrolysis.