Nutritional Content of Sapu-sapu Fish: Protein to Essential Amino Acids

YOGYAKARTA - Many people question whether or not to eat sapu-sapu fish. The reason is that many people think that sapu-sapu fish contains heavy metals because of its ability to live and adapt in dirty waters. On the other hand, many people also think that sapu-sapu fish is usually used as a food mixture such as in fish somay. In addition, according to research, the nutritional content of sapu-sapu fish is quite diverse, one of which is protein.

There are many studies that explain what nutrients are stored in the sapu-sapu fish meat. One of the studies entitled "Chemical Analysis of Sapu-sapu Fish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis Castelnau 1855) from Lake Tempe, South Sulawesi, Indonesia".

In the study it is said that the sapu-sapu fish contains quite complete nutrition ranging from proteins, amino acids, and essential fatty acids with varying concentrations.

Even the amino acid content in the fish is quite complete. Based on the study, there are 10 types of essential amino acids found, namely as follows.

Although the content of essential amino acids in the fish is relatively high, it has not met the standard of human amino acid requirements recommended by FAO/WHO.

Not only amino acids, the protein content in the fish is also said to be high. This information is based on a study written by Haninah, et al., entitled "Nutritional Content of Abon Fish Sapu-sapu (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) from Ciliwung River, Indonesia".

Through the study, Haninah, Handhini Dwi Putri, Dewi Elfidasari, and Irawan Sugoro examined the protein content of fish manure made from sapu-sapu fish meat. The results showed that the protein content of fish manure sapu-sapu that they examined was 39.68 percent. Even this figure exceeds the minimum protein level set by SNI 7690.1:2013 which is 30 percent for manure products.

Even so, the nutritional content of the sapu-sapu fish still needs to be studied continuously. For other interesting information, visit VOI.id.