The Impact of Lake Ecosystems on Mineral Concentrations in Tissues of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Fish are a source of minerals that is highly favored by consumers in most parts of the world. However, these minerals become toxic upon high-level intake and can accumulate toxic trace elements in different tissues. Nevertheless, mineral distribution in fish tissues is poorly evaluated. Analyzing tissue mineral distribution would help us to understand the physiological role of each tissue and the impact of the ecosystem on mineral and toxic trace element accumulation in the tissues. We evaluated the differences in mineral and toxic trace element concentrations of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) tissues from three aquatic ecosystems. Distinct differences were observed between tissues in Nile tilapia; in addition, these concentrations were substantially affected by the lake the fish were caught from. The accumulation of elements toxic to humans, such as aluminum, should be monitored and, in particular, controlled when rearing these fish in aquaculture. Further investigation is warranted to identify the origin of the very high intestinal Fe concentration in all fish samples, which coincided with high concentrations of Al. ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the differences in mineral and toxic trace element concentrations of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) tissues from three aquatic ecosystems in Ethiopia—Lake Ziway, Lake Langano, and Gilgel Gibe reservoir—with a focus on edible (fillet) and discarded (digestive tract, gills, skin, and liver) parts. A total of sixty (n = 60) Nile tilapia samples were collected, comprising twenty (n = 20) fish from each lake, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. All elements varied markedly among tissues and between the lakes. Some differences in element concentrations were attributed to differences in nutrient load in the ecosystems and the function of the tissues. For instance, the calcium concentrations in skin and gill were distinctly higher in fish from calcium-rich Lake Langano. The d iscarded parts were richer in essential trace elements, showing an opportunity to promote their use in human nutrition to increase the intake of important minerals. However, the accumulation of elements toxic to humans, such as aluminum, should be monitored and, in particular, controlled when rearing these fish in aquaculture.