Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Dietary benefits of fishes are well established not only as for human food supplement but also as a supplement that can be utilized for poultry, pig farming and aqua-culture. Fishes are a good source of proteins, essential fatty acids and minerals. Communities with high fish intake have lower rates of acute myocardial infarctions, atherosclerosis, and better cognitive functions for development of fetal neural and visual system. In the present study we investigated the nutritional attributes of dried fish powder (Fish meal) prepared from local collection of small indigenous fishes (SIS) that are known to be rich in micronutrient. Feeding trial of partial replacement of basal diet with FM to rats and then its effects on general health parameters were compared with those of control rats fed with regular basal diet by performing basic metabolic analyses such as blood biochemical parameters. The proximate values of dried SIS - Salmophasia bacaila, Aspidoparia morar, Amblipharyngodon mola, Gudusia chapra and Gonialosa manmina were well established and were taken as basal values. The group with 25% FM showed the most promising improvement in serum and liver parameters as depicted by improved enzymes, creatinine, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, albumin content. However, there was elevation of the urea and uric acid levels in all the experimental groups of fish meal supplementations (15%, 25% and 50% FM). Hence, it can be hypothesized that the dried fish powder prepared from the small indigenous fishes are definitely of high physiological importance as a nutraceutical. Further, investigations are required to justify the elevation of the urea and serum phosphorus levels that were increased.