What Is The Nutritional Value Of Smoked Oysters?

Smoked oysters consist of small oysters that have been smoked, then packed into cans with salt and oil. Cottonseed oil is the most common oil used since it does not require hydrogenation, contains no trans fats and does not alter the flavor of foods. Nutritionally, smoked oysters are a rich source of a number of vitamins and minerals; however, they do contain a large amount of cholesterol.

Calories

While different brands of smoked oysters contain slightly different per serving calorie contents, most brands provide between 140 and 170 calories per serving. The Quite Healthy Technologies site reports that a 2.3 oz. serving of Chicken of the Sea Smoked Oysters contains 140 calories, with 23 percent of those calories coming from carbohydrates, 29 percent from protein and 50 percent from fat.

Fat

One serving of smoked oysters contains about 70 calories provided by fat. This amount is equal to 8 g, or 12 percent of the daily recommended intake of fat for an adult consuming a 2,000 calorie diet. Of these 8 g, 2 g are due to saturated fat. Smoked oysters do not contain any trans fats, although one serving does contain 45 mg of cholesterol -- about 15 percent of the recommended daily intake of cholesterol. In addition, the Crown Prince site reports that one 85 g serving of smoked oysters contains 1.2 g of omega-3 fatty acids, the fatty acids thought to be linked to a decrease in the risk of heart disease and other diseases like cancer.

Protein

An 85 g serving of smoked oysters contains approximately 14 g of protein, while 40 calories of a 140 calorie serving of smoked oysters is provided by protein. As a complete source of protein, these oysters contain all of the essential amino acids, although smoked oysters are particularly rich in glutamic acid, aspartic acid and lysine.

Carbohydrates

Approximately 8 g of carbohydrates are included in a 2.3 oz. serving of smoked oysters. These carbohydrates are not provided by dietary fiber or simple sugars -- smoked oysters contain zero grams of either.

Vitamins and Minerals

Smoked oysters are a rich source of a number of vitamins and minerals, including iron; thiamine, or Vitamin B1; calcium; Vitamin A; riboflavin, or Vitamin B2; Vitamin C; copper; potassium; sodium; magnesium; pantothenic acid; Vitamin B12; zinc; phosphorus; iodine; niacin, or Vitamin B3; and Vitamin D. The 5.4 mg of iron provided by a serving of the oysters is 30 percent of an adult's daily recommended intake, while the same amount provides 4 percent of the Vitamin A intake and 2 percent of the daily need for calcium.