Changes in health beneficial components during ice storage of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Ice-storage is the most common method of preserving fresh fish. The aim of this work was to study whether ice storage had an effect on contents at selenium, taurine and fatty acid composition in farmed African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Gutted fish (n = 40) were stored in melting ice for 21 days, and 5 fish were at regular time intervals randomly drawn from the pool, filleted and freeze-dried. The samples were analyzed for contents of selenium, taurine and fatty acids. During ice storage, water content at fillets increased due to influx of water from melted ice. Only concentrations of water soluble taurine were found to decrease significantly, approximately 25 %, whereas concentration of selenium and the fatty acid profile did not substantially change during storage.