Comparative study on the nutritional composition of small and large size Tenualosa ilisha of Meghna River, Bangladesh

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the comparative nutritional composition of small and large-sized Hilsa of the Meghna River in Bangladesh. Proximate composition revealed that energy (291 vs 245 kcal, p = 0.004), total protein (22.50 vs 18.14 %, p < 0.001), and total lipids (22.32 vs 19.13 %, p = 0.005) contents were significantly higher in large-sized Hilsa. The small, and large-sized Hilsa contained 89.88 and 81.69 µg/100 g of vitamin A, respectively. The content of folate (7.27 vs 7.00 µg/100 g, p = 0.041) was significantly higher in small-sized Hilsa. However, no significant variation was found in vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and pyridoxine contents between small and large-sized Hilsa. Among the minerals, the contents (mg/100 g) of magnesium (19.44 vs 18.15, p = 0.008), zinc (0.96 vs 0.88, p = 0.008), sodium (55.26 vs 51.51, p < 0.001), and potassium (9.20 vs 8.60, p = 0.026) were significantly higher in small-sized Hilsa. On the contrary, the content of calcium (352.67 vs 228.00 mg/100 g, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in large-sized Hilsa compared to small-sized Hilsa. Both total indispensable amino acid, total dispensable amino acids, total PUFA and total omega-3 fatty acids contents were higher in large-sized Hilsa.