Abstract
Salmonids are valuable fish in the human diet due to their high content of bioactive omega-3 very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (VLC PUFA). The aim of this study was to assess the omega-3 VLC PUFA content in selected salmonid fish present on the food market regarding whether they were farm-raised or wild. It was assumed that farm-raised fish, by eating well-balanced feed enriched with omega-3 PUFA, might contain omega-3 VLC PUFA in levels similar to that of wild fish. Fat content, fatty acid composition and omega-3 VLC PUFA content in fish fillets were measured. Farm-raised salmon from Norway, wild Baltic salmon, farm-raised rainbow trout and brown trout were bought from a food market whereas wild trout (rainbow and brown) were caught alive. The fat content in fish ranged from 3.3 to 8.0 g/100 g of fillet. It was confirmed that although wild salmonid fish contain 10–25% more omega-3 VLC PUFA in lipid fraction, the farm-raised ones, due to the 60–100% higher fat content, are an equally rich source of these desirable fatty acids in the human diet. One serving (130 g) of salmonid fish fillets might provide a significant dose of omega-3 VLC PUFA, from 1.2 to 2.5 g. Thus, due to very high content of bioactive fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) in their meat, salmonid fish currently present on the food market, both sea and freshwater as well as wild and farm-raised, should be considered as natural functional food.
Highlights
The omega-3 (n-3) very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) are important components of the human diet, having desirable effects on brain development and cardiovascular health [1,2]
The highest content of fat was found in farm-raised brown trout, while the lowest one in wild rainbow trout (Table 1)
A significant difference in fat content between farm-raised fish (Norwegian salmon, farm-raised brown trout and farm-raised rainbow trout) and fish living in natural conditions (Baltic salmon, wild brown trout and wild rainbow trout) was found
Summary
The omega-3 (n-3) very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) are important components of the human diet, having desirable effects on brain development and cardiovascular health [1,2]. EPA and DHA are essential nutrients due to their beneficial effects on the functioning of the central nervous system, as well as decreasing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) [6,7,8,9,10]. It has been shown that EPA, DPA and DHA improve the function of the cardiovascular system and decrease markers of metabolic diseases risk, such as plasma lipid parameters, platelet aggregation, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and cellular plasticity. It has been shown that DPA is the most abundant fatty acid in the central nervous system, just after DHA This indicates that DPA might be especially beneficial for early-life development, as well as elderly neuroprotection, and decrease the risk of depression [9,11,12]
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