Nutrient Composition of Six Small Indigenous Fish from NEH Region and Their Contribution Potential to Human Nutrition

Six small indigenous fish species namely Macrognathus aral, Setipinna phasa, Clupisoma garua, Aspidoporia morar, Barillius bendelisis and Semiplotus semiplotus were collected from Brahmaputra river and its tributaries for analysing their nutritional values. Proximate composition, fatty acids profile, total cholesterol and mineral composition were analyzed from the pooled samples of each species. In proximate composition, protein and crude fat in all six fish ranged from 15.65 (S. phasa) to 20.88% (C. garua) and 2.91 (C. garua) to 13.23% (S. phasa), respectively. Among the fatty acids, sum of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, the functional micronutrient, was found to be high in S. semiplotus followed by S. phasa and B. bendelisis, and the lowest was recorded in C. garua, and was almost similar result for the n-3/n-6 ratio. S. semiplotus and S. phasa, as compared to the rest, although rich in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol were found to be highly potential to contribute n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to pregnant and lactating woman. In most of these fish, with slight exception, the profiles of macrominerals reveal the abundance trend as potassium > calcium > sodium while the trend for microminerals was iron > zinc > manganese. In terms of dietary mineral contribution, M. aral and B. bendelisis showed best dietary potential for Ca; and S. phasa and M. aral showed for Fe. This outcome of the present study will complement the existing knowledge on nutritional composition of small indigenous fish species of Indian subcontinent.