Effects of smoking and sun-drying on proximate, fatty and amino acids compositions of Southern pink shrimp (Penaeus notialis).

Traditional techniques of smoking and sun drying were investigated to understand their effects on nutritional qualities of Southern pink shrimp against present human dietary needs. Shrimps subjected to hot smoking at 71 °C and sun drying at ambient temperature of 31 °C treatments were compared to fresh samples. Proximate composition dry weight basis showed that smoked product were highest in protein and carbohydrate (P < 0.05) while fat was raised in sundried products (P < 0.05). The monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFAs) were highest ranging from 35.87 to 40.35 % in all products. Oleic acid (18:1) had highest value of 24.26 % in the smoked. Eicosapentanoic acid (C20:5 n-3) was highest in the sundried while Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3) predominated in the fresh. The shrimp protein had Glutamate as the most abundant amino acid in the three forms. Both preservation methods significantly (P < 0.01) raised the values of tyrosine, histidine and leucine. The Ω-3/Ω-6 ratios showed that prawn is rich in omega 3. The highest arginine/lysine ratio (1.54) was obtained in sundried. The EAA/NEAA ratios ranged from 0.72 to 0.80 while index of atherogenicity (IA) and index of thrombogenicity (IT) ranged from 0.71 to 0.82 and 0.21 to 0.30 respectively in all forms. All products forms showed different advantages with respect to quality and nutrition, smoked samples however, offered the best benefits. Information provided is the first detailed study on the impacts of smoking and sun-drying on the nutritional qualities of a shrimp with tremendous economic and nutritional importance.