Seasonality as experienced in the market and the resulting variation in the amino acid and elemental composition of chub mackerel (Scomber colias)

Abstract

Chub mackerel (Scomber colias) is an underutilised fish species, abundant in the Atlantic Ocean. Its amino acid profile and elemental composition are still insufficiently studied. Accordingly, these aspects were studied on a monthly basis. The most abundant essential amino acids, lysine and leucine, had contents ranging from 1270 ± 40 mg/100 g in August to 1820 ± 96 mg/100 g in November and from 1210 ± 36 mg/100 g in August to 1570 ± 20 mg/100 g in March, respectively. The other essential amino acids’ contents varied between 500 and 1200 mg/100 g. Essential amino acids represented between 41.9 % and 44.6 % of all amino acids. As a result of high histidine content in S. colias, three weekly meals (160 g/meal) guarantee all human histidine requirements. Regarding elemental composition, K was the most abundant, varying its content between 331 ± 3 mg/100 g and 499 ± 4 mg/100 g. The other studied elements’ order of abundance was P > Na > Mg > Ca > Fe > Zn. Under optimal conditions, consumption of a 160 g daily meal of S. colias may provide at most 20 % of the Fe and 30 % of the Zn requirements. Therefore, though not an outstanding Fe and Zn source, S. colias can give a significant contribution to these elements’ requirements.