Proximate composition and mineral content (K, Na, Ca and P) of four sillaginides from the southern waters of Iran

The present study was carried out to determine and compare proximate composition and minerals (K, Na, Ca and P) in the edible tissue of Sillaginid species, including Sillago arabica, Sillago chondropus, Sillago indica and Sillago sihama in the southern waters of Iran. The fish species were collected from two stations in Persian Gulf (Bushehr and Hormuz Island) and one station in the Oman Sea (Chabahar) during a period from December to March 2020. Moisture, fats, ash and protein content were determined using AOAC standard method and the amount of minerals was measured using ICP-MS. The average moisture content was (70.3 ± 1.9 to 79.7 ± 1.3%), protein was (14.1 ± 2.1 to 21.9 ± 1.3%), fat was (1.5 ± 0.3to 3.9 ± 0.1%) and ash was (3.4 ± 0.8 to 4.5 ± 0.9%). The highest amount of elements was obtained for phosphorus (1060.4 ± 180.3-1693.2 ± 162.3) and then potassium (597.5 ± 82.3-1153.1 ± 137.6). This study showed that all four species of Sillaginid species in our country's waters are rich in protein with a protein content of more than 15%. All the fish analyzed for fat were lean with fat contents less than 0.5%. The Na/K ratio values, which was calculated less than 1 in all four species. The results of this study confirmed Sillaginid species as a valuable nutritional source with suitable protein and minerals content.