PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND ASSESSMENT OF PROCESSED AFRICAN CHARACIN (ALESTES DENTEX) AND NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) FROM OSE DAM, ONDO STATE
Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the proximate composition and nutritional quality of two economically important fish species, Alestes dentex and Oreochromis niloticus, sourced from Ose Dam, Ondo State, Nigeria. The objective was to determine the effects of three processing methods which are; sun-drying, electric oven drying, and smoking on their moisture, crude protein, crude fat, ash, and nitrogen-free extract (carbohydrate) content. Fresh samples of both fish species served as controls. The statistical analysis using ANOVA results revealed significant changes at p≤0.05 in the proximate composition of the fish after processing. Moisture content significantly decreased across all processed samples compared to fresh fish, ranging from 8.051% (smoked A. dentex) to 13.174% (sun-dried O. niloticus), compared to 76.843% and 74.594% for fresh Alestes dentex and Oreochromis niloticus and the control respectively. Conversely, the concentrations of crude protein, crude fat, and ash significantly increased due to the removal of water. Crude protein content in processed A. dentex ranged from 58.602% (smoked) to 61.801% (sun-dried), while for O. niloticus ranged from 58.328% (smoked) to 60.457% (sun-dried). Similarly, crude fat and ash content were significantly higher in the processed samples. Sun-drying generally resulted in higher crude protein content for both species, while smoked drying led to the lowest moisture and often the highest ash content. Electric oven drying also proved effective in moisture reduction and nutrient concentration. This study highlighted the effectiveness of different processing methods in preserving and enhancing the nutritional density of these fish species, making them more valuable for food security and economic purposes in the region. The study also suggested that the processing methods influenced the nutritional profiles of fish, with implications for consumer health and market preferences.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.