Fatty Acid composition and levels of selected polyunsaturated Fatty acids in four commercial important freshwater fish species from lake victoria, Tanzania.

Agnes Robert,Chacha J Mwita,Prosper Mfilinge,Samwel M Limbu

doi:10.1155/2014/712134

Abstract

Fatty acids (FAs) particularly ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play important role in human health. This study aimed to investigate the composition and levels of selected ω3 PUFAs in four commercial fish species, Nile perch (Lates niloticus), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Tilapia zillii, and dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea) from Mwanza Gulf in Lake Victoria. The results indicated that 36 types of FAs with different saturation levels were detected. These FAs were dominated by docosahexaenoic (DHA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA), and eicosatetraenoic acids. O. niloticus had the highest composition of FAs (34) compared to L. niloticus (27), T. zillii (26), and R. argentea (21). The levels of EPA differed significantly among the four commercial fish species (F = 6.19, P = 0.001). The highest EPA levels were found in R. argentea followed by L. niloticus and O. niloticus and the lowest in T. zillii. The DPA levels showed no significant difference among the four fish species studied (F = 0.652, P = 0.583). The study concluded that all four commercial species collected from Mwanza Gulf are good for human health, but R. argentea is the best for consumption because it contains higher levels of ω3 FAs, mainly EPA.

Highlights

Freshwater fishes contain saturated fatty acids (SAFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that have significant role in human health
The present study investigated the types and levels of ω3 PUFAs in four different species, Nile perch (Lates niloticus), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Tilapia zillii, and dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea) in Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria
A total of 48 individual species of Lates niloticus, Oreochromis niloticus, Tilapia zillii, and Rastrineobola argentea were collected from Mwanza Gulf and morphologically identified using keys given by Eccles [21] and Skelton [22]

Summary

Introduction

Freshwater fishes contain saturated fatty acids (SAFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that have significant role in human health. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important due to their ability to prevent cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, and some other illnesses such as atherosclerosis, thrombogenesis, high blood pressure, cancer, and skin diseases [1]. The main ω3 PUFAs playing important role in human health include α-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and ω6 PUFAs include linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) [2]. These PUFAs are not synthesized in the human body and inclusion in human diets is a necessity [3]. It is important to take a proactive approach to ensure sustained access and uptake of PUFAs for proper maintenance of our health [4]

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Conclusion