Lipid Contents, Fatty Acid Profiles and Nutritional Quality of Nine Wild Caught Freshwater Fish Species of the Yangtze Basin, China

Abstract

Owing to the favorable effects of essential fatty acids on human health, a great degree of interest on fatty acid profiles and nutritional quality of fish species have been of interest in the recent years. The present study investigated the lipid content, fatty acid profiles and nutritional quality in nine freshwater fish species from the Ganjiang River in the Yangtze basin, China. Results showed that total lipid content of the dorsal muscle was 0.59–2.2% and that was inversely linked to moisture content (r2 = 0.79, p < 0.01). Wide ranges of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (21.83 to 50.53%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (19.43 to 45.60%) were found. The ratios of n-3 to n-6 PUFA ranged from 0.25 to 1.16 (p < 0.001). N-3 PUFA was dominated by eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids varying from 2.77 to 15.11% of total fatty acids. Indices of atherogenicity and thrombogenicity (IA and IT) based on fatty acid compositions ranged from 0.36 to 0.52 and 0.36 to 0.64 in all species, respectively (p < 0.001). These results indicated fatty acid profiles were different among the fish species and the potential of these species as dietary source of essential fatty acids from the nutritional standpoint.