Nutritional Composition of Some Selected Commercial Seafood from Ibaka and Itu Fishing Settlements, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study investigates the nutritional composition, including proximate, vitamin, and mineral contents of selected commercial seafood species; the Bonga shad (Ethmalosa fimbriata), Bobo Croaker (Pseudotolithus elongatus), Perewinkle (Tympanotonus fuscatus), and Blue crab (Callinectes amnicola) from Ibaka and Itu fishing settlements in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Samples were randomly collected, preserved on ice, and analyzed in two forms (raw and smoked) at Ritman University Laboratory. Smoking significantly reduced moisture content (p < 0.05), concentrating macronutrients and minerals such as calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and enhanced fat-soluble vitamins A and E. Effects on heat-sensitive vitamin C varied across species. Smoking improved protein–lipid ratios, energy density, and mineral concentrations, with species-specific variations in elemental ratios like Ca/P and Fe/Zn. Nutrient bioavailability was enhanced, though some losses of selected micronutrients were observed. These findings underscore the substantial nutritional value of these seafood species and highlight smoking as an effective preservation technique that enhances nutrient density and shelf life. This study supports the importance of local seafood from Ibaka and Itu as valuable dietary resources for regional food security and nutrition.