Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate nutritional value of selected commonly consumed fresh water fish species of Pakistan. Proximate composition and fatty acids profile of mostly consumed fresh water fish species of Pakistan namely Balm or Baam (Anguilla anguilla), Sole (Channa marulius), Damra (Labeo rohita) and Malhi (Wallago atto) were analysed. Proximate composition data showed a significant difference (p<0.05) among the nutritional components except carbohydrate and gross energy contents. Protein and moisture contents found plenteous in the Baam (Anguilla anguilla) whereas ash and fat contents in Malhi (Wallagoatto) are found copious. Saturated Fatty Acids (SFAs) and Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs) found to be principal Fatty Acids (FAs) with their ranges from (48.43 to 65.76%) and (25.72 to 31.37%) respectively. In SFAs and MUFAs, palmitic acid (32.4 to 47.71%) and oleic acid (10.97 to 21.26%) were identified as major FAs respectively in all species. The existence of short and medium chain SFAs is advantageous for designation of these fish species as alterative diet as these above mentioned FAs not only involved in metabolic regulation but also helpful to remove the metabolic disparities related to Coronary Heart Diseases (CHD), brain seizure, Alzheimer disease, glucose homeostasis, appetite and gastric acid secretion. Among the PUFAs, Omega-6 PUFAs are found to be more abundant than Omega-3 with Linoleic acid (LA, C18:2?6) as predominant PUFA in A. anguilla (9.137%) and L. rohita (9.128%) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA, C18:3?6) and cis-8, 11, 14 Eicosatrienoic (hGLA, C20:3 ?6) as most prevailing PUFAs in C. marulius (2.3%) and W. atto (1.61%) respectively. These species found to be a substantial source of Omega-6 PUFAs with ?3/?6 ratio less than 1. The overall all summation of Eicosapentaenoic (EPA, C20:5 ?3) acid and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 ?3) ranged from 0.38% in C. marulius to 1.93% in L. rohita.
Highlights
There are, in Pakistan, reportedly 531 species of fish out of which 233 are of fresh water fish species (Saify et al, 2000)
Quality and quantity of fish oil extracted from these fishes was checked with special reference to Saturated Fatty Acids (SFAs), Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs), Essential Fatty Acids and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) like Omega-3 and Omega-6 and their fraction in the samples
Among SFAs, short, medium chain and odd number FAs were detected, signifying the status of under study fish species as a remedial and therapeutic diet due to their curative strikes on various ailments related to regulation of growth and digestion hormones, metabolism, appetite, brain seizure, scleroses and Alzheimer disease
Summary
There are, in Pakistan, reportedly 531 species of fish out of which 233 are of fresh water fish species (Saify et al, 2000). A large variety of fresh water fish species are cultured commercially in Pakistan. The area which is used for the fish farming system is about 60,500 ha. The fresh water fishes that are mostly cultured and consumed in Pakistan are Damra (Labeo Rohita), Sole (Channamarulius), Catla (Catla Catla), Baam or Balm (Anguilla anguilla), Brown trout (Salmotrutta), Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchusmykiss), Malhi (Wallagoatto), Marigal (Cirrhinusmrigala), Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodonidella) and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthysmolitrix) etc. Fish is an important source of superior kind protein, essential minerals and vitamins. The most important feature of fish carcass is its oil which is the origin of unparalleled and ample source of Omega-3 (ώ3) and
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