NUTRIENT EVALUATION OF CHARCOAL AND GAS SMOKED CLARIAS GARIEPINUS (BURCHELL, 1822) AND SAROTHERODUN GALILAEUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM BAUCHI RIVER (GUBI DAM)

Abstract

The impact of charcoal and gas smoking on the nutrient composition of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and tilapia (Sarotherodun galilaeus) was studied. The fishes were slaughtered and then gutted, washed, hanged for moisture drip and salted in 70% brine solution and was left for 15 minutes. The samples were divided into two portions. The first portion was smoked with charcoal for 2 hours at .190oC. The second portion was smoked under gas powered kiln for 2 hours at .180oC. The proximate, minerals, amino acid profile and vitamins of the smoked samples were determined using standard methods. The results revealed that charcoal smoked catfish had significantly high (p<0.05) ash (23.34%) and fibre contents while, gas smoked tilapia had significantly (p<0.05) high protein (37.30%), fat (23.74%) and energy value (444.99 kcal/10 g). Smoked tilapia were significantly (p<0.05) high in potassium, sodium, zinc, iron and copper while smoked catfish were significantly (p<0.05) high in magnesium and selenium. Charcoal smoked catfish and tilapia significantly (p<0.05) present rises in the percentage contents of leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, histidine, isoleucine and threonine. Charcoal smoked catfish had significantly (p<0.05) high vitamin A (29.32 UI/100 g) while gas smoked had the least content (25.21 UI/100 g). Similarly, charcoal smoked catfish had significantly (p<0.05) high vitamin D (3.89 UI/100 g) while gas smoked tilapia had the least content (2.30 UI/100 g). Charcoal smoked fish exhibited high availability of proteins, mineral elements, amino acids and vitamins A and D hence, it should be adopted by local fish processors.