Abstract
This study focuses on the extraction of nutritional and healthy constituents of whole by-products resulting from the commercialisation of Patagonian squid (Doriteuthis gahi). By-products corresponding to squid individuals captured at different seasons were comparatively analysed for proximate composition, lipid classes content, fatty acid (FA) profile, and macroelement and trace element composition. As a result, moisture, lipid, protein, and ash values were included in the ranges 829.0-842.8, 17.5-21.8, 106.0-123.7, and 9.3-13.3 g·kg(-1) by-products, respectively. Phospholipids showed to be the most abundant lipid class (359.2-463.5 g·kg(-1) lipids), while triacylglycerols were only present in a 9.5-13.1 g·kg(-1) lipids range. Valuable levels were detected for α-tocopherol (539.6-973.3 mg·kg(-1) lipids), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; 50.5-52.6 g·100 g(-1) FA), ω3 PUFA (47.0-48.6 g·100 g(-1) FA), PUFA/saturated FA ratio (1.4-1.6), and ω3/ω6 ratio (12.1-13.4). Among macroelements, S, P, and Na showed to be more abundant than K, Mg, and Ca. Profitable levels of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn were detected in all kinds of individuals. In spite of content variations found as a result of the capture season of Patagonian squid individuals, whole by-products of this cephalopod species can be considered as a profitable source to provide the food and pharmaceutical industries with useful value-added constituents.