Amino Acid Compositions of 27 Food Fishes and Their Importance in Clinical Nutrition

Proteins and amino acids are important biomolecules which regulate key metabolic pathways and serve as precursors for synthesis of biologically important substances; moreover, amino acids are building blocks of proteins. Fish is an important dietary source of quality animal proteins and amino acids and play important role in human nutrition. In the present investigation, crude protein content and amino acid compositions of important food fishes from different habitats have been studied. Crude protein content was determined by Kjeldahl method and amino acid composition was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and information on 27 food fishes was generated. The analysis showed that the cold water species are rich in lysine and aspartic acid, marine fishes in leucine, small indigenous fishes in histidine, and the carps and catfishes in glutamic acid and glycine. The enriched nutrition knowledge base would enhance the utility of fish as a source of quality animal proteins and amino acids and aid in their inclusion in dietary counseling and patient guidance for specific nutritional needs

Micronutrient Composition of 35 Food Fishes from India and Their Significance in Human Nutrition

The micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are required in small amounts but are essential for health, development, and growth. Micronutrient deficiencies, which affect over two billion people around the globe, are the leading cause of many ailments including mental retardation, preventable blindness, and death during childbirth. Fish is an important dietary source of micronutrients and play important role in human nutrition. In the present investigation, micronutrient composition of 35 food fishes (includes both finfishes and shellfishes) was investigated from varying aquatic habitats. Macrominerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg), trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Se) were determined by either atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma- mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) / atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Phosphorus content was determined either spectrophotometrically or by ICP-AES. Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The analysis showed that, in general, the marine fishes were rich in sodium and potassium, small indigenous fishes (SIFs) in calcium, iron and manganese, coldwater fishes in selenium and the brackishwater fishes in phosphorous. The marine fishes S. longiceps and Epinephelus Spp and the SIFs were rich in all fat soluble vitamins. All these recommendations were made according to the potential contribution (Daily value %) of that species to the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for that nutrient. Information on the micronutrients generated would enhance the utility of fish in both community as well as clinical nutrition