STUDY ON SOME MINERALS CONTENT IN NILE FISH.

Five fish species (Oreochromis niloticus, Bagrus bayad, Lates niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, and Mormyrus kannume) "25 of each" were collected from Assiut fish markets between January and December 2021 to determine the proximate composition (moisture, dry matter, fat, and ash), as well as some minerals: macro (calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K); and micro minerals (iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Results of proximate composition revealed moisture mean values were (79.40, 81.22, 80, 76.20, and 78.75%, respectively) in samples of Oreochromis niloticus, Bagrus bayad, Lates niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, and Mormyrus kannume, dry matter mean values were (20.60, 18.81, 19.29, 23.80, and 21.25%, respectively); fat mean values were (1.54, 1.48, 1.29, 2.28, and 3.28%, respectively), and ash mean values were (1.02, 0.91, 0.97, 1.32, and 0.93%, respectively). A noteworthy distinction (P<0.05) was discovered between the mean value (g/100g) of proximate items for some studied fish species. Results of minerals content declared that calcium mean values were (494.34, 156.34, 159.99, 249.85, and 187.11, respectively) in the investigated samples of Oreochromis niloticus, Bagrus bayad, Lates niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, and Mormyrus kannume; phosphorus mean values (mg/100g) were (151.41, 159.20, 133.98, 232.13, and 265.30, respectively); magnesium mean values were (22.04, 15.12, 19.37, 19.29, and 13.81, respectively); sodium mean values were 1462.47, 1465.27, 1395.11, 1993.46, and 1673.54, respectively); and potassium mean values were 217.21, 394.28, 151.88, 347.72, and 239.79, respectively), iron mean values were (2.70, 3.48, 4.58, 6.88, and 2.63, respectively), and zinc mean values were 4.57, 2.48, 3.67, 3.41, and 3.79%, respectively). A significant difference between some studied fish species was found regarding their macro and microelement content. In conclusion, fishes under investigation are an excellent source of vital minerals, and it was observed that Claris gariepinus displayed superior mineral content and proximal quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]