Abstract
ABSTRACT Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most critical and least available omega-3 fatty acid in the Western human diet. Currently, the source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) is mainly dependent on wild fisheries, making this resource unsustainable in the foreseeable future. In recent years, a high rate of biosynthesis and accumulation of DHA has been discovered in a freshwater species (Chirostoma estor) belonging to the Atherinopsidae family. Interest in evaluating fatty acid composition in other members of the family has emerged, so this study compiles original data of flesh composition of eight atherinopsid species from freshwater and brackish environments, either wild or cultured. High levels of DHA (16 to 31%) were found in all analyzed members of the family, except in C. grandocule, independently of their habitat or origin. The analyzed species of the Jordani group (C. estor, C. promelas and C. humboldtianum) showed high DHA and low EPA levels (<0.5%) as previously reported for cultured C. estor. The low trophic niche of these atherinopsids and their fatty acid accumulation capabilities are factors that make these species noteworthy candidates for sustainable aquaculture.
Highlights
It is well known that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) (≥C20) have a critical importance in most aspects of human health (Calder, 2014, 2015; Lands, 2014, 2015; Liu et al, 2017), being arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) the most important (Tacon, Metian, 2013; Cardoso et al, 2016)
A high rate of biosynthesis and accumulation of DHA has been discovered in the pike silverside (Chirostoma estor Jordan, 1880) (Fonseca-Madrigal et al, 2012, 2014), a freshwater species from the neovolcanic plateau of Central Mexico that belongs to the Atherinopsidae family
The highest percentage (18%) of total omega-6 PUFA was found in cultured C. promelas, C. estor estor and O. hatcheri, in contrast to the lower percentage (5%) of wild/ freshwater O. bonariensis
Summary
It is well known that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) (≥C20) have a critical importance in most aspects of human health (Calder, 2014, 2015; Lands, 2014, 2015; Liu et al, 2017), being arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) the most important (Tacon, Metian, 2013; Cardoso et al, 2016). Omega-3 LC-PUFA (EPA and DHA) come from various sources of wild caught fisheries and aquaculture. A high rate of biosynthesis and accumulation of DHA has been discovered in the pike silverside (Chirostoma estor Jordan, 1880) (Fonseca-Madrigal et al, 2012, 2014), a freshwater species from the neovolcanic plateau of Central Mexico that belongs to the Atherinopsidae family. This species together with C. promelas Jordan & Snyder, 1899 and C. humboldtianum (Valenciennes, 1835) have an ancestral regional cultural value associated to human health (Martínez-Palacios et al, 2006). These species are nearly extinct due to habitat decay and overfishing driven by their cultural value and high local market prices ($ 30-60 US dollars/kg)
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