Proximate, Minerals and Vitamin Composition of Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus Freshwater Fish Species obtained from Ega Market in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to investigate the proximate, minerals and vitamin composition of Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus freshwater fish species obtained from Ega Market in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria using standard procedure. The highest protein content was recorded for Synodotis ocellifer at 24.76±0.000^a and for Malapteruru selectricus at 20.625±0.019^b, highest moisture was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 71.07±0.042^a and for Synodontis ocellifer at 68.30±0.141^b.The highest ash content was recorded for Synodontis ocellifer at 3.075±0.035^aand forMalapterurus electricus at 2.875±0.356^b.The highest crude fibre was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 1.030±0.014^a, while the lowest crude fibre was recorded in Synodontis ocellifer 0.140±0.028^b.The highest Fat content was recorded Synodontis ocellifer at 3.110±0.014^aand forMalapterurus electricus at 3.025±0.007^b. The highest carbohydrate content was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 1.38±0.084^a and for Synodontis ocellifer at 0.705±0.134^b. There is a significant difference between all the proximate compositions for Synodontis ocellifer and Malapteruru selectricus at p-value< 0.05.Synodontisocellifer, the highest mineral content was recorded for K at 942.10±0.14^a followed by Ca at 317.950±0.214^a, while the lowest was observed in Fe at 2.35±0.70^b. For Malapterurus electricus, the highest mineral content was recorded for K at 610.70±0.00^b followed by Ca at 203.40±0.14^b, while the lowest was observed in Zn at 2.30±0.14^b.There was a significant difference between all the mineral compositions for Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus except for P, at p-value< 0.05. The highest Vitamin C content was recorded for Synodontis ocellifer at 5.35±0.035^a, while the lowest Vitamin C content was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 4.77±0.035^b. The highest Vitamin A content was recorded for Synodontis ocellifer at 144.33±1.689^a, while lowest Vitamin A content was recorded at 130.02±0.000^b. There is a significant difference between all the vitamin compositions for Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus at p-value< 0.05.The nutrient profile of these fish species will provide information to dieticians, livestock farmers, marketing industries and other fisheries stakeholders. Synodotis ocellifer has the highest protein content and could be recommended as a possible effective way to solve protein malnutrition.