Amino Acid Profile and Mineral Content of Cultivated Snails Acusta despecta and Achatina fulica: Assessing Their Potential as Nutritional Source

Abstract

This study evaluates the nutritional potential of two cultivated snail species, Acusta despecta and Achatina fulica, sourced from commercial farms in Korea, marking the first comprehensive analysis of A. despecta. The protein content of A. despecta (70.9 g/100 g dry matter) was significantly higher than that of A. fulica (44.2 g/100 g dry matter). Similar trends were observed for ash content (6.3 vs. 4.9 g/100 g dry matter) and crude fiber (2.9 vs. 0.4 g/100 g dry matter). Reflecting the higher protein content, A. despecta contained elevated levels of most amino acids compared to A. fulica. Glutamic acid was the most abundant amino acid, with leucine and lysine being the predominant essential amino acids in both species. The total amino acid content was 57.6 g/100 g dry matter for A. despecta and 40.4 g/100 g for A. fulica. Mineral analysis revealed significantly higher concentrations of minerals in A. despecta, except calcium and magnesium. Notably, A. despecta provided over 100% of the RDA/AI for calcium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese and met 94.5% of the iron RDA for women. These results emphasize the potential of A. despecta as a valuable dietary source for addressing protein and mineral deficiencies, particularly in nutrient-poor diets.