Proximate and Mineral Composition of Fifteen Freshwater Fishes of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu

By : B. Chrisolite , S.A. Shanmugam , S. Siva Senthil Arumugam

Page No: 33-43

Abstract
The proximate composition (moisture, protein, fat and ash content) and mineral composition (sodium, potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus content) of fifteen freshwater fishes from the market of Thoothukudi was analysed to create a baseline data on the nutritional quality of freshwater fishes. The moisture content of the fishes under study ranged from 73.21 to 81.90 %. The protein content of fishes ranged from 3.46 % in pearl spot (Etroplus suratensis) to 27.44 % in eels (Anguilla bengalensis) and nine species had protein content over 15 %. The lipid content ranged from 0.25 (Channa striatus) to 8.26 % (Mysteris oar) and only three fishes viz. grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), catfish (Mystis oar) and pearl spot (Etroplus suratensis) had higher lipid value of over 7 %. The carbohydrate content was very low (0.07 to 1.0 %) and ash content ranged from 0.92 to 2.18 %. Sodium, potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus content ranged from 0.35 – 11.49 mg %, 6.80 – 37.02 mg %, 0.16 – 5.75 mg %, 0.50- 2.96 mg % and 298.31 – 626.31 mg % respectively. The study showed that freshwater fishes had protein and lipid content similar to marine fishes and can be used as a protein rich food relatively at a cheaper cost.

Authors :
B. Chrisolite, S.A. Shanmugam, S. Siva Senthil Arumugam
Department of Basic Sciences, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi.