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Fish is a major part of the Bangladeshi diet, but data on the nutrient composition of marine fish species are sparse. Mesopelagic fish may be a new potential resource of food and nutrients; however, nutrient composition data are lacking. The aim of this study was to provide nutrient composition data of fish species sampled off the coast of Bangladesh and determine their potential contribution to recommended nutrient intakes (RNI). Seven species from the pelagic, mesopelagic, and demersal zones were sampled from the coast of Bangladesh with Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 2018. Three pooled samples containing 15-840 individuals from each species were analysed at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway. The demersal species contained substantially lower concentrations of nearly all nutrients, whereas the mesopelagic species generally were more nutrient dense. All species, except for the demersal species Bombay duck (9% dry matter), were found to contribute ≥100% to the RNI of vitamin B12, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and selenium. All species, except for the demersal fish species, contributed ≥25% to the RNI of six or more nutrients. The data presented in this paper are an important contribution to the Bangladeshi food composition table and contribute to the understanding of fish as an important source of micronutrients.

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Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their offspring may result in unfavorable health outcomes for both mother and infant. A 25hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level of at least 75 nmol/L is recommended by the Endocrine Society. Validated, automated sample preparation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were used to determine the vitamin D metabolites status in mother-infant pairs. Detection of 3-Epi25(OH)D3 prevented overestimation of 25(OH)D3 and misclassification of vitamin D status. Sixty-three percent of maternal 25(OH)D plasma levels were less than the recommended level of 25(OH)D at 3 months. Additionally, breastmilk levels of 25(OH)D decreased from 60.1 nmol/L to 50.0 nmol/L between six weeks and three months (p < 0.01). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between mother and infant plasma levels (p < 0.01, r = 0.56) at 3 months. Accordingly, 31% of the infants were categorized as vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) compared to 25% if 3-Epi25(OH)D3 was not distinguished from 25(OH)D3. This study highlights the importance of accurate quantification of 25(OH)D. Monitoring vitamin D metabolites in infant, maternal plasma, and breastmilk may be needed to ensure adequate levels in both mother and infant in the first 6 months of infant life.

Fish and seafood may play an important role for nutrition and food security as they contain essential vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. The aim of this study was to describe the nutrient composition, including fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, in commonly consumed fish species (fillet- and whole fish samples) sampled off the Northwest African coast. Furthermore, we assessed the species’ contributions to the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) values from the World Health Organization (WHO). Samples of commercially important fish species (Sardina pilchardus, Engraulis encrasicolus, Trachurus trachurus, Pagellus acarne) were collected using trawling on the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in May 2017 and analyzed for nutrients at the Institute of Marine Research as individual and composite samples. All the analyzed fish species were good dietary sources of several vitamins and minerals and whole fish were substantially more nutrient dense than fillet samples, especially with regard to vitamin A, iodine, zinc, calcium, and iron. Including 100 g of sardine or anchovy (whole fish) in the diet, would contribute substantially to the RNI for vitamin B12, vitamin D and vitamin A, EPA and DHA as well as the minerals iodine, zinc, and calcium. This study shows that fish consumed with skin, bone, and viscera may be very nutrient dense and important for local food and nutrition security.

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Seafood plays a central role in global food and nutrition security. However, there is a lack of data on the concentration of nutrients and contaminants in fish and other seafood, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In order to assess the potential risks and benefits associated with seafood intake, reliable and up-to-date food composition data is crucial. The quality of food composition data is affected by several factors, such as sampling protocols and the suitability and quality of the methods applied for sample preparation and analysis. In this paper, we describe the sampling methodology and protocols related to the sampling of fish and other seafood and the corresponding analytical methods used to analyse the nutrient and contaminant content of such species. For nutrients, the determination of protein, fat, ash, energy, fatty acids, cholesterol, and amino acids is described, in addition to analyses for determination of the vitamin and mineral content in fish and other seafood. For contaminants, analyses for the determination of organic pollutants and microplastics are described. The methodology described in this paper is used for sampling data through scientific surveys in low- and middle-income countries with research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen under the EAF-Nansen Programme. The Programme aims to improve knowledge on the nutritional composition of fish and ensure the fish is safe to consume. In this paper, we describe the sampling protocols used for sampling fish and other seafood during scientific surveys under the EAF-Nansen Programme. This paper describes the methodology and quality control for analysing nutrients and contaminants in fish and other seafood.

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