# Nutritional Composition, Textural, Histological and Structural Properties of Giant Sea Catfish (Arius thalassinus) Roe as Affected by Size

## TL;DR

This study examines the nutritional and structural properties of giant sea catfish roe across different sizes, revealing their high protein and essential nutrient content.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the nutritional and structural characteristics of giant sea catfish roe across varying sizes.

## Key findings

- GSC roe is rich in protein, essential amino acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids like EPA and DHA.
- Larger roe sizes showed greater membrane thickness and differences in microstructure.
- GSC roe contains high levels of phosphorus and has potential as a nutritious marine food or functional ingredient.

## Abstract

Fish roe is consumed in different forms, e.g., caviar. The large and firm spherical roe from giant sea catfish (GSC, Arius thalassinus), which have a high price, are popular in some countries, like Thailand. However, the information on their nutrition and properties is scarce. Roe of different sizes from GSC, including medium (GSC-M), large (GSC-L), and extra-large (GSC-XL) sizes, were rich in protein (29.52–32.70%), fat (4.07–5.65%), and essential amino acids, particularly leucine and lysine. Vitelline was the major protein in GSC roe. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, were abundant, although GSC-M showed lower PUFA content (21.91%) than GSC-L and GSC-XL (25.56–25.94%). No significant differences in texture property were found between sizes, despite the microstructural and histological differences. Larger voids and strands were found with augmenting size, while GSC-L showed greater membrane thickness (133.55 µm). FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of peptide and ester bonds associated with proteins and triacylglycerols, respectively. GSC-L had the highest cholesterol content (651.2 mg/100 g), whereas GSC-M showed the highest α-tocopherol level (1.64 mg/kg). Phosphorus was the dominant mineral (3473–3894 mg/kg), followed by calcium and other minerals. Hence, the roe from GSC, regardless of size, possess high nutritive value and could be used as a wholesome marine food or functional ingredient.