Essential Mineral Content Evaluation in Fish Species Consumed in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia

Fish has a high nutritional value since it contains a range of vital metals, making it an important dietary ingredient. Recognizing the levels of essential metals in fish is crucial for preserving consumer health. This study aimed to examine the levels of four essential metals; Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), and Calcium (Ca) in fish species collected from a fish market in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). Plectropomus leopardus had the highest levels of Mg (1140.0 ± 7.20 mg/kg) and Ca (1842.8± 3.30 mg/kg), while Sphyraena flavicauda and Scomberoides lysan species had the highest levels of K (7729.3±141.66 mg/kg) and Na (1990.8±5.24 mg/kg), respectively. The results showed that the average levels of the minerals studied in fish species were 1402.6±9.05, 706.2±2.86, 5018.9±90.47, and 672.2±4.93 mg/kg for Na, Mg, K, and Ca respectively. Minerals concentrations in fish species declined in the following order: K > Na > Mg > Ca. The obtained results revealed that the average levels of Ca and Mg in all examined fish species were within the FAO's acceptable limits, however, K and Na levels were slightly higher in three species for each element. Additionally, The Na/K ratio was found to be less than one (< 1) in all fish species under investigation. Our results demonstrated that ingesting the selected fish species can support a balanced, healthful diet and may be used to treat hypertension and cardiovascular disease in humans.