Fatty acid compositions and atherogenic and thrombogenic indices ofcommonly consumed marine, brackish and fresh water fishes

Abstract

The fatty acid contents of marine, brackish and fresh water fishes were identified and quantified by gas chromatography. It was found that marine fishes were better sources of n-3 fatty acids, whereas fresh and brackish water fishes were better sources of n-6 fatty acids. Marine fish had the highest amount of PUFA. Among PUFAs, docosadienoic acid (C22:2n6) and adrenic acid (C22:4n6) were identified in 20 fishes. EPA and DHA was significantly higher in marine fishes (p less gthan 0.01), particularly, Dussumieria acuta, the rainbow sardine (24.80 mg g-1). Gerres abbreviates, the silver belly (20.16 mg g-1) and Tricusurus savala, the wolf herring (23.34 mg g-1). The n-3: n-6 ratio was significantly higher in marine fishes (p less gthan 0.05) than in the brackish and fresh water fishes studied. Atherogenicity (AI) and thrombogenicity(TI) values were significantly higher in both fresh and brackish water fishes and significantly lower (p less gthan 0.01) in marine fishes.