Abstract
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 B 12 . Data were summarized as absolute and relative differences and as log 2 (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 B 12 , 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 B 12 -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.