Identification of Biomarkers to Distinguish Between Korean and Russian Snow Crabs Using Omics-Related Techniques, Fatty Acid Profiling, and Multivariate Statistical Analysis

The nutritional composition of snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) varies substantially by geographic origin. This study aimed to determine differences in the fatty acid profiles of Russian and Korean snow crabs and to identify origin-based biomarkers.
Fatty acid analysis and multivariate statistical analysis were performed to identify distinguishing compounds.
Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), with cut-off values set at 18.90% and 33.55% of total fatty acids, respectively.
A statistical model was developed and validated to distinguish geographic origin, providing a reliable tool for food origin verification and supporting regulatory efforts and consumer confidence.