Himalayan Fish Manifest Higher Potential of Quality Nutrients for Human Health

Five species of snow trout (Schizothorax spp.) were investigated for their inherent nutritional value. Proximate composition, total fat, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fatty acids (FAs) profile, and mineral profiles were analyzed. Protein percentage in all five fish was found to be the same (P > 0.05), ranging from 15% to 18%. Moisture (75–82%) and lipid (1.5–8%) values were found to differ prominently (P < 0.05) in an inverse manner. Total fat (%), total cholesterol (mg/100 g), and triglyceride (mg/100 g) contents were found in the range of 2.73–6.54, 21.31–25.76, and 298.89–342.22, respectively. The trend of FAs in decreasing order was saturated > mono-unsaturated > polyunsaturated (n–6 > n–3). The sum of n–6 FAs value was higher than that of n–3, and the major n–6 and n–3 long chain polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) were arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, respectively. In most of these fish, the profile of macrominerals was phosphorus > potassium > calcium > sodium > magnesium, while the trend for microminerals was iron > zinc > copper > manganese. The snow trout species with best contribution potential to the daily requirement of n–3 long chain PUFAs was found in S. esocinus and S. niger, calcium and phosphorus in S. plagiostomus, and iron and copper in S. progastus.