The Influence of Different Dietary Carbohydrate to Lipid Ratios on Some Qualitative Characteristics of Fillets of Beluga (Huso huso) During Refrigeration

Abstract

In this study, juvenile beluga (Huso huso) were fed diets containing different carbohydrate to lipid ratios for 5 months. At the end of the culture period, proximate compositions of the fish carcasses (moisture, protein, fat, and ash) were measured. Then, qualitative changes in the fishes were evaluated during 24-days refrigeration (4 • C), along with changes in their total volatile bases nitrogen (TVN), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), free fatty acids (FFA), pH, and muscle texture profile analysis. The results of proximate analysis of the carcasses showed that moisture, protein, and ash of the carcasses increased significantly (p < 0.05) with higher carbohydrate to lipid ratio, but fat content of the carcasses decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Further, during refrigeration, TVN, TBA, and FFA increased significantly in all the samples (p < 0.05), but these changes did not follow the same pattern in all the treatments. Tissue hardness decreased during preservation. Although pH changes in the fillets were low, they were significant and without a clear-cut pattern. The results showed that use of different carbohydrate to lipid ratios in diet does not lead to clear-cut changes in qualitative characteristics of beluga fillets during refrigeration.