Changes in nutritive value of fish, Channa punctatus after chronic exposure to zinc

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the effects of sublethal concentrations of zinc (0.1 and 0.2 mgl(-1)) on the nutritional value of fish Channa punctatus after exposure for 135 days. The parameters studied were, levels of total proteins, glycogen, total lipids, cholesterol and vitamins (A and D) in the muscle. Total proteins, glycogen, total lipids and vitamin D show highly significant decline from day 90 to 135, while cholesterol and vitamin A, show no significant changes upto 105 days. This study signifies a drastic reduction in the nutritive value of fish, which is compounded by the fact that under natural conditions fish are exposed to these levels of zinc for prolonged periods.