Nutritional composition of the adults (female and male) and juveniles of Coilia mystus were investigated using the national standard methods. The results showed that: (1) Adult females has the highest content of fat, while the juveniles has
the highest content of protein and moisture. (2) The juveniles has the highest content of Lys, Glu, Asp, TAA, SEAA, NEAA, FAA, while the adult females have the lowest content. (3) The juveniles have the highest content of DHA, EPA, DPA, ARA, PUFA,
n3PUFA, n6PUFA, while the adult males have the lowest content. The above analysis showed that the juveniles took diet more balanced in essential amino acid and abundant in essential fatty acid than that taken by adults. The juveniles showed better
edible value and health function than the adults, which is more suitable for development and utilization as a natural food by the whole.