Comparison of Nutritional Characteristics of Myctophid Fishes (Diaphus effulgens and D. hudsoni) with Common Indian Food Fishes

Abstract

Though myctophids (Family: Myctophidae) are the most predominant mesopelgic fishes available in Western and Eastern Indian Ocean, they are the least utilized fishery resources. Myctophids constitute a substantial quantity of the discards of deep-sea shrimp trawlers operating off South-west coast of India. As most of the conventional fish stocks have reached a state of full exploitation or overexploitation, efficient utilization of mesopelagic resources is necessary to fill in the supply-demand gap for fish-based products. An attempt has been initiated to compare the nutritional composition, minerals, trace elements, fatty acid and amino acid profiling of two myctophid species viz., Diaphus effulgens and D. hudsoni with commonly available Indian food fishes (Sardinella longiceps, Mugil cephalus and Rastrelliger kanagurta). Proximate composition indicate that protein and lipid levels in these myctophid fishes are comparable to that of the selected food fishes. These myctophids contained n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and essential amino acids in significant proportions. Results of the present study show that D. effulgens and D. hudsoni are potential resources of nutrients required for the formulation of nutritional supplements for human healthcare.