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Fatty acids, selenium, and vitamin B12 in chub mackerel (Scomber colias) as nourishment considering seasonality and bioaccessibility as factors

Publication . Afonso, Cláudia; Cardoso, Carlos; Gomes-Bispo, Ana; Ferreira, Inês; Rego, Andreia; Coelho, Inês; Motta, Carla; Prates, José A.M.; Castanheira, Isabel; Bandarra, Narcisa M.

Chub mackerel (Scomber colias) is an underutilised fish abundant in the North Atlantic and a nutritious food with high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), selenium (Se), and vitamin B12 contents, affected by seasonality. Hence, the bioaccessibility of fatty acid (FA), Se, and vitamin B12 in chub mackerel was studied. Daily consumptions of 51 g, 35 g, and 14 g of March, June, and October chub mackerel, respectively, would ensure EPA + DHA requirements. Vitamin B12 requirements would be met by daily consumptions of 15–18 g of chub mackerel. For Se, larger amounts would be needed, 126–133 g/day. For FA, bioaccessibility often exceeded 80 %. Additionally, Se and vitamin B12 bioaccessibilities were 91–95 % and 77–83 %, respectively. Thus, bioaccessibility-based consumption frequencies for meeting dietary requirements are similar to those above, being the highest consumption frequencies associated to Se requirements, 137–146 g/day. Chub mackerel proved to be an excellent source of bioaccessible essential nutrients.

2022-09-29Journal article

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Seasonal variation of chub mackerel (Scomber colias) selenium and vitamin B12 content and its potential role in human health

Publication . Rego, A.; Coelho, I.; Motta, C.; Cardoso, C.; Gomes-Bispo, A.; Afonso, C.; Prates, J.A.M.; Bandarra, N.M.; Silva, J.A.L.; Castanheira, I.

Chub mackerel (Scomber colias), an underutilised fish species, has been identified as an excellent source of selenium and vitamin B12, which may prevent and delay cognitive decline and dementia. Given these nutrients’ contents seasonal variability, a complete monthly sampling, involving a specifically adjusted methodology for the determination of vitamin B12 (LC-MS/MS) and its main vitamers and a sensitive analytical technique (ICPMS) for Se, was carried out. Regarding total vitamin B12 in the chub mackerel muscle, its content varied from 10.0 ± 1.0 μg/100 g in February to 18.9 ± 1.9 μg/100 g in August. It was also shown that methylcobalamin content ranged from 1.12 ± 0.43 (March) to 6.77 ± 0.80 μg/100 g (August), a sixfold increase. Hydroxocobalamin content varied between 3.49 ± 0.12 (February) and 9.62 ± 0.41 μg/100 g (August). The content of Se also had seasonal variability, ranging from 451 ± 14 μg/kg (December) to 606 ± 11 μg/kg (July). In the worst-case scenario, a weekly 160 g meal of this fish would almost guarantee B12 requirements. Three weekly 160 g meals of S. colias would cover, at least, 56% of the Se requirements. Therefore, as first explored here, it is highly relevant a complete, year-round assessment of the chub mackerel’s nutritional value, in order to elaborate finely tuned dietary recommendations.

2022-06Journal article

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