Mineral and toxic metal composition in three commercial species of Gadidae

Abstract

The high nutritional value of fish stems from its high contents of protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. The aim of the present study was to assess the nutritional value of cod in terms of minerals and to estimate the risk posed by the toxic metals contained in the muscles of fish belonging to the family Gadidae. Individuals of three subspecies of cod were examined: Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua morhua L., Baltic cod, Gadus morhua callarias L., and saithe, Pollachius virens, Linnaeus, 1758. Macro and microelements occur in Gadidae in varied quantities. The mineral concentrations of the fish examined in the current study occurred in the following sequence: K > P > Na > Mg > Ca > Zn > Fe > Sr > Cu > Se > Mn > Cr. P and K dominated in all the specimens. Na and As occurred in Atlantic cod at high levels, while saithe muscles contained high levels of Na, Mg, Zn, and Fe, and Baltic cod contained high levels of Ca and Sr. Cod were an important source of P and Se and a moderately good source of K, Mg, and Zn. The remaining minerals provided a share of several percent of the recommended daily intake (RDI). Low levels of Cd, Pb, Hg, and toxic, inorganic As compounds posed no risk to the health of consumers. The lack of risk was confirmed by the low values of estimated daily intake (EDI) values, target hazard quotient (THQ) values below 1, and carcinogenic risk (CR) coefficients that were within a range from 10−6 to 10−4.