Biological evaluation of crab meat (Scylla-serrata) in the rat.

Shell-fish are of some significance in the human diet. Because of their high content of protein, low content of fat and high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, they are commonly recommended in diets designed to treat atherosclerotic patients. However, little work on their nutritional value has been reported. Assessments of the biological value of different crab-meat preparations indicate that there is variation in the quality of protein, and it has been claimed that crab-meat proteins are as effective as beef protein and superior to casein in promoting growth of rats (Suzuki, Okuda, Okimato & Nagasawa, 1919; Watson & Fellers, 1935; Lanham, Lee & Nilson, 1940; Sure & Easterling, 1952). The work now presented was conducted to assess the protein quality of meat of a commercially important species of crab (Scylla-Serrata).