2017 Vol.23 No.2 PP 423-431

EVALUATION OF NUTRIENT COMPOSITION AND MINERAL CONTENT OF TRADITIONALLY DRIED SMALL INDIGENOUS FISHES

SHADAB MASUD^* AND CHANDANA HALDAR

Department of Zoology,
Institute of Science,
Banaras Hindu University,
VARANASI-221005, INDIA
*Corresponding Author : Email : shadab.masud@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Small indigenous fish species (SIS) are rich in nutrients and can be ensure nutritional security even in their dried state. Four dried cyprinid food fishes viz. Salmophasia bacaila , Aspidoparia morar , Amblypharyngodon mola and Puntius sophore were studied. All the four species are rich in protein content so they are important source of animal protein. The results showed variation in moisture, protein, fat, ash, fiber and in mineral content. Moisture was estimated 5.69% ( P. sophore ) to 7.42% ( A. morar ). Protein content varied from 52.32% ( S . bacaila ) to 60.79% ( A. morar ). Fat, ash, fiber, Ca and P content varied from 15.56% to 29.76%, 11.52% to 17.96%, 0.09% to 0.35%, 3.17% to 5.87% and 1.54% to 3.06% respectively. Higher levels of protein in SIS make them an important dietary supplement to promote growth and tissue healing and can be able to reduce the animal protein requirements for increasing human population. The overall result reveals that the SIS of the region are highly nutritious.

Key words : Calcium, Dried SIS, Phosphorus, Proximate composition.