52 Internet Journal of Food Safety, Vol.9, 2007, p. 52-55 Copyright© 2007, Food Safety Information Publishing Proximate and Mineral Composition in Some Selected Fresh Water Fishes in Nigeria Fawole, O. O. * , Ogundiran, M. A., Ayandiran, T. A., and Olagunju, O. F. Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Introduction Fish is known to be one of the cheapest sources of animal protein and other essential nutrients required in human diets (Sadiku and Oladimeji, 1991). The nature and quality of nutrients in most animals is dependent upon their food type. Also. feeding habit of an individual fish species has great effect on it’s body nutrients composition (Lagler et al., 1977). The importance of fish in developing countries increased greatly after the Sahelian drought of 1971 -1974 which greatly decimated the cattle population, made the price of livestock virtually prohibitive to the majority of Nigerians; a trend which triggered a corresponding increase in the demand for fish which then was the main alternative animal protein source (Ladipo et al., 1982). Foran et al., (2005) submitted that, fish is a highly proteinous food consumed by a larger percentage of populace because of it’s availability and palatability. The study of mineral elements present in living organisms is of biological importance; since many of such elements take part in some metabolic processes and are known to be indispensable to all living things (Shul’man, 1974). The body usually contains small amount of these minerals, some of which are essential nutrients, been components of many enzymes system and metabolic mechanisms, and as such contribute to the growth of the fish. The most important mineral salts are that of calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorous, iron, chlorine while many others are also needed in trace amounts. The deficiency in these principal nutritional mineral elements induces a lot of malfunctioning; as it reduces productivity and causes diseases, such as inability of blood to clot, osteoporosis, anemia etc. (Shul’man, 1974 and Mills, 1980). Moreover, the measurement of some proximate profiles such as protein contents, carbohydrates, lipids, moisture contents and ash percentage is often necessary to ensure that they meet the requirements of food regulations and commercial specifications (Watermann, 2000). In addition, one of the major pollution sources that pose serious health risk and environmental concern is that which result from heavy metals (Neil et al., 1995). All living organisms Abstract: The study on the elemental and proximate composition of dried samples of Oreochromis niloticus, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Clarias gariepinus and Heterotis niloticus was determined to gain the knowledge of the risk and benefits associated with indiscriminate consumption of freshwater fishes. Wet digestion was done for the samples and was analyzed for minerals and heavy metals spectrophotometrically. The species examined contained appreciable concentrations of sodium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and iron suggesting that the fish species could be used as a good source of minerals. Few heavy metals analyzed were present but within tolerable limits. Likewise the values of the proximate composition obtained were seen to be highly pronounced most especially the crude protein and this also makes the fishes to be a good source of protein as well. Therefore, it can be suggested that taste, size, freshness and other related external appearances should not be the only factor to be considered in making choice for marketing and consumption of freshwater fishes. Key words: Freshwater fishes, proximate composition, elemental composition Oreochromis niloticus, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Clarias gariepinus and Heterotis niloticus * Corresponding author. E-mail: droofawole@yahoo.com