Proximate and micronutrient composition of Bayad (<i>Bagrus bajad</i>) and upside-down catfish (<i>Synodontis resupinatus</i>) from Lake Alau, Nigeria

Abstract

The knowledge of biochemical composition of muscles of fish helps in evaluating not only their nutritive value but also in quality assessment for optimum utilization. Therefore, the proximate composition and microelement contents in the muscle of bayad (Bagrus bajad) and upside-down catfish (Synodontis resupinatus) captured from Lake Alau were assessed. Ten fresh samples of each species (390.00 ± 46.25 g) obtained from fishers’ were filleted and analysed for proximate and mineral compositions following standard procedures. Moisture (80.04 ± 3.48 g 100 g^-1), crude protein (15.64 ± 1.13 g 100 g^-1) and ash content (1.81 ± 0.31 g 100 g^-1) of bayad were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of upside-down catfish. Carbohydrate (66.89 ± 1.28 %) and crude fat (2.03 ± 0.30 %) of upside-down catfish were significantly higher than that of bayad (p<0.05). Highest level of magnesium (0.54 ± 0.11 mg kg^-1), sodium (0.06 ± 0.03 mg kg^-1) and phosphate (0.67 ± 0.10 mg kg^-1) were found in bayad while upside-down catfish had superior calcium (0.48 ± 0.23 mg kg^-1) content. Furthermore, zinc (0.71 ± 0.15 mg kg^-1), nickel (0.62 ± 0.08 mg kg^-1) and chromium (0.11 ± 0.02 mg kg^-1) contents were higher in bayad while copper (0.17 ± 0.07 mg kg^-1), cadmium (0.07 ± 0.02 mg kg^-1), lead (0.09 ± 0.02 mg kg^-1) and iron (0.40 ± 0.16 mg kg^-1) contents were significantly lower (p<0.05) in value when compared with upside-down catfish. Conclusively, these two fish species are rich in nutrients and can impact positively on human health.

Keywords: Fish muscle, Bagrus bajad, Synodontis resupinatus, Nutritional composition, Minerals, Lake Alau