Comparative analysis of nutritional values of riverine and marine hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha; Hamilton, 1882)

A study was performed to analyze the biochemical composition (moisture, protein, fat, ash, salt value, iron, calcium and phosphorus) of raw and salted hilsa. Pure (with less than 1% impurities) and clean dry salt was used (fish weight : salt weight = 3 : 1) for salting the hilsa. The nutrients values of the hilsa from two different regions were significantly (p < 0.05) varied. The biochemical compositions were also different before and after the processing of the hilsa. Riverine hilsa contains relatively more moisture ($57.79{\pm}0.51%$) and protein ($15.65{\pm}0.50%$) than marine hilsa. Fat ($16.39{\pm}0.51%$) and salt ($1.80{\pm}0.14%$) contents are higher in marine hilsa; whereas the ash ($7.88{\pm}0.35%$) content was higher in the riverine hilsa. Minerals like iron ($4.92{\pm}0.32mg/100g$) and calcium ($480.02{\pm}6.73mg/100g$) remain in large amounts in the marine hilsa, but the phosphorus ($112.36{\pm}4.40mg/100g$) content remains at a high level in the riverine hilsa. In addition, the protein (raw condition, $18.54{\pm}0.46%$, riverine; $17.12{\pm}0.42%$, marine and salted condition, $32.54{\pm}0.5%$, riverine; $27.31{\pm}0.48%$, marine) and fat (raw condition, $15.41{\pm}0.46%$, riverine; $19.07{\pm}0.51%$, marine and salted condition, $11.58{\pm}0.39%$, riverine; $13.6{\pm}0.55%$, marine) contents were higher in the abdominal region of the riverine and marine hilsa both in the raw and salted conditions than in the head and caudal region.