ANÁLISIS PROXIMAL, CONTENIDO DE AMINOACIDOS ESENCIALES Y RELACIÓN CALCIO/FÓSFORO EN ALGUNAS ESPECIES DE PESCADO Proximate Analysis, Essential Aminoacid Content and CalciumlPhosphorous Ratio in Some Fish Species

Fish is base of diets in many countries and nutritive value of some species is not well known. The objective of this work was determine proxirnate analysis, essential aminoacid content, and minerals in sorne fish species commonly sold in Venezuela. Proximate analysis was performed using AOAC methodology. Amino acid profile was detemined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Mineral analysis was perforrned using spectrophotometric methods. In proximate analysis results protein content was 21.44%, with variations between 18.70 and 25.53%. In aminoacid profile of studied species a high concentration of lysine, histidine and methionine was observed. mero showed high levels of isoleucine, and tilapia of valine and isoleucine, even higher than regular requirernents. Low methionine content for al1 species was observed. Mineral mean values in mg% were: 73 for Calcium and 238,13 for Phosphorous, significative differences (P<0,05) for al1 species for each mineral were found. All studied species are an excellent foodstuff due to their fat, aminoacid and mineral content, imporiant for men nutrition.