Nutritional Profiling and Seasonal Variation in the Proximate Composition of Emperor Fish (Lethrinus lentjan) from Thoothukudi Coast of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Seasonal variation in the proximate composition
(moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate and ash) was
analysed in emperor fish (Lethrinus lentjan). Mineral
composition (iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium
and calcium) was also analysed. Moisture, protein,
fat, carbohydrate and ash contents were found to
range from 74.93–78.20, 14.53–24.40, 0.21–2.76, 0.49–
1.07 and 1.24–2.70% respectively. Iron, phosphorus,
sodium, calcium and potassium was 4.20, 13.50,
7.20, 156.20 and 17.90 mg% respectively. Fatty acid
profile of emperor fish revealed palmitic acid (C16),
stearic acid (C18) and myristic acid (C14) to be the
major saturated fatty acid and elaidic acid (C18:1n9T)
and oleic acid (C18: 1n9C) were the dominant
monounsaturated fatty acids. Investigations also
revealed that fat content was higher during the
monsoon season (October and November).