Comparison of Chemical Compositions and Fatty Acid Profile of Cultured Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

Abstract

Chemical composition and fatty acid profile of fillets from cultured common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) were assessed. Ten farmed common and six silver carps were purchased from the fish ponds in Gonbad-e, Golestan Province (Iran). Fish were cultured in a semi-intensive manner in polyculture system with natural feeding in the pond without commercial feeding. No significant difference was detected between common carp and silver carp in total lipid, crude protein, moisture, and ash contents (p ≥ 0.05). In our investigation, the major fatty acids identified in common carp were C18:1ω-9, C18:2ω-6, and C16:1, respectively, and the most plentiful fatty acids in silver carp were C20:4 ω-6, C18:1ω-9, and C16:1, respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed that the total amount of SFA in Cyprinus carpio does not have any significant difference with its amount in Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (p < 0.05). MUFA contents in common carp were higher than in silver carp (p ≤ 0.05); on the contrary, PUFA content was significantly higher in silver carp than in common carp (p ≤ 0.05). PUFA/SFA and ω-3/ω-6 ratio in silver carp was significantly higher than that of common carp (p ≤ 0.05). ω-3 content in silver carp was significantly higher than in common carp (p ≤ 0.05). No significant differences were found in the total content of ω-6 fatty acids between both species (p ≤ 0.05). However, since PUFA, PUFA/SFA, and ω-3/ω-6 ratios and ω-3 in silver carp were significantly higher than those in common carp, therefore, it can be concluded that silver carp is more favorable compared to cultured common carp. Of course, it is noteworthy that the mentioned ratios in silver and common carp were very far from recommended amounts. The results obtained from the present study may verify high nutritional value of both fish.