Sex-related differences in the lipid and micronutrient profile, but not the proximate composition, of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis: a pilot study with implications for sex-targeted aquaculture

Bivalves are a sustainable, low-carbon-footprint source of high-quality animal protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly the long-chain (LC) n-3 forms eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) is among the most farmed and consumed bivalves in Europe, yet the role of sex in its nutritional profile at marketed-product level is poorly documented. M. galloprovincialis shows skewed sex-biased progenies, possibly influencing product nutrient content. In this pilot study, pooled soft tissues of farmed adults purchased as human food were sex-sorted into a female (F) and a male (M) pool (60 animals each) and analyzed for proximate composition, fatty acid profile, minerals, and vitamin B12. Data were summarized as absolute and relative differences and as log2(F/M). Moisture, protein, ash, carbohydrates, and energy were nearly superimposable between sexes. In contrast, the female pool has 25.6% more total lipids and ~five-fold higher PUFA fraction, driven by an order-of-magnitude higher EPA and DHA; total n-3 fatty acids were nearly six-fold higher, the n-3/n-6 ratio was more than twice, and EPA+DHA was more than ten times higher than in the male pool. Vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and iodine were higher in the female pool, whereas sodium and zinc were higher in the male pool. These data suggest that sex-targeted aquaculture could be explored as a route to differentiated, n-3 LC-PUFA and vitamin B12-enriched mussel products, providing a quantitative basis for properly replicated, season-resolved follow-up studies, and for breeding programs aimed at strengthening the nutritional and socio-economic value of mussel farming.