Assessment of Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Profiles in Four Native Freshwater Fish from Sentani Lake, Papua: Implications for Functional Food Development

Abstract

Sentani Lake in Papua, Indonesia, is home to several native freshwater fish species with notable nutritional value. This study aimed to evaluate the amino acid and fatty acid profiles of four native species (Giurius aporocephalus, Glossolepis incisus, Glossogobius sentaniensis, and Neoarius velutinus) to assess their potential as functional food ingredients. Samples were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography (GC). Results showed that all species contained high levels of total essential amino acids (TEAA), with lysine, leucine, and valine being the most abundant. Among non-essential amino acids (NEAA), glutamic acid and proline were predominant. Fatty acid profiles revealed a favorable presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA. Neoarius velutinus had the highest PUFA content (1.88%), while Glossolepis incisus showed the highest total amino acid content (73.81 g/100 g). These findings support the potential of Sentani Lake’s native fish as valuable local sources for functional food development aimed at improving nutritional security.