Evaluation of lipid profiles in selected fresh and dry-cured game meats

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This study examined and compared the fatty acid (FA) composition and fat quality indices of four types of wild game meat (deer, roe deer, mouflon, and wild boar) from Croatia, and two types of dry-cured game meat products (deer and wild boar) available on the market, in relation to their impact on consumer health. FAs were analysed by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector, and fat quality indices were calculated based on the determined FAs. Wild boar meat clearly differs from other game meat (ruminants), due to its higher fat content and higher proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) compared to saturated fatty acids (SFA). Palmitic and stearic acids made up the greatest proportion of the SFA component, with stearic acid most represented in mouflon and roe deer meat, and palmitic acid predominating in wild boar and deer meat. Oleic acid was the largest component of MUFAs, with wild boar meat having the significantly highest and deer meat the lowest values. Linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid made up the largest proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with the highest proportion of α-linolenic omega-3 acid found in deer meat. The determined PUFA/SFA ratio was lower, while the thrombogenic index was above the recommended values. Wild boar meat, along with roe deer and mouflon meat, was compliant with the recommendations concerning hypo- to hypercholesterolemic fatty acids and atherogenic indices, while deer meat and roe deer meat were compliant only for the n-6/n-3 ratio. According to health recommendations, roe deer meat showed the most favourable values for most fat quality indices, while deer meat showed the least favourable values. When comparing fresh meat and dry-cured products from the same species, no significant differences were observed.