Naturally strong: Nutrients in African catfish

The study by Abdel-Mobdy et al. (2021) shows that African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is nutritionally extremely valuable and has a balanced nutrient profile.

Moisture & Macronutrients

The study describes catfish meat as juicy, with a high water content, yet rich in protein and healthy fats. The protein in catfish provides all essential amino acids, making it a complete source of protein.
The fats in the fish consist primarily of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are considered heart-friendly – especially oleic acid and linoleic acid. When dried, African catfish has higher protein and fat values.

Minerals

The study also provides evidence that catfish is a natural source of important minerals such as calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc. The role of these minerals is generally well-researched: They contribute, among other things, to the maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, muscle and nerve function, energy metabolism, and red blood cell formation.

Vitamins

Like many other freshwater fish, the African catfish typically contains B vitamins—however, these were not examined in detail in this study. The nutrients of the African catfish not only play an important role for us humans, but are also a valuable addition to the diet of dogs.

You can read the original study here:
Nutritional Value of African Catfish Meat (Abdel-Mobdy et al., 2021)

The African catfish by-products used by Dear Dog contain, in addition to the head, carcass and skin, a considerable amount of catfish meat that is located between the bones and cannot be removed during filleting.