Specificity of fatty acid composition of highly migratory fish. A comparison of docosahexaenoic acid content in total lipids extracted in various organs of bonito ( Euthynnus pelamis)

Abstract

Fatty acid composition of lipids in various organs of the bonito ( Euthynnus pelamis), a typical species within the tuna species, caught in the sea off the Pacific coast of Japan, was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The major fatty acids of all organs examined were palmitic acid (16:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1), oleic acid (18:1), icosapentaenoic acid (20:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6). 22:6 (DHA) was the dominant fatty acid accounting for 25% or more of the total fatty acids in all organs of the bonito, caught in the sea off the Japanese coast.