Fatty Acid Composition in the Hepatopancreas of the Barents Sea Red King Crab

Abstract

The fatty acid composition in the hepatopancreas of the red king crab from the Barents Sea was studied. Polyunsaturated fatty acids dominated among the fatty acids analyzed (11 792 ± 592 μg/g, 45.3 ± 0.7% of the total fatty acid concentration). Saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids were found in approximately equal proportions accounting for 7825 ± 454 μg/g (28.3 ± 0.4%) and 7661 ± 510 μg/g (26.4 ± 0.6%), respectively. Significant interannual and intersexual differences were found in the fatty acid profiles of the crabs studied. The crab size, shell age, and number of injured legs did not affect the fatty acid compositions in the hepatopancreas. The high concentrations of essential fatty acids belonging to the omega-3 and omega-6 classes indicate that the hepatopancreas of the Barents Sea red king crab could be used as a source of extraction of these valuable substances.