Abstract
Sturgeon raw eggs, caviar and meat obtained from different species reared in an Italian production plant were evaluated for their chemical composition, in order to improve their appreciation on the market and to detect any eventual distinctness related to the species. Mainly, fatty acid (FA) profile of eggs and caviar, determined by Gas-Chromatography coupled to Flame Ionization Detection, showed variability in the interspecific comparison, highlighted by chemometric methods (Linear Discriminant Analysis). Generally, all samples showed a prevalence of unsaturated fatty acids with respect to saturated ones, reaching a content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) between the 40% and the 50% of total FA. A remarkable presence of n3 series PUFA was detected in all samples and a selective deposition of many FA into eggs’ cellular membranes, yolk lipid and body fat reserves, imputable to the different biological role of single FA during sturgeon reproduction, was evidenced. Chemical composition of sturgeon flesh samples evidenced a high-protein and medium-fat content, characterized by a FA profile of high nutritional value. Moreover, color parameters (redness, yellowness, brightness, Chroma) were measured on sturgeon fillets, showing many species-specific characteristics of sturgeon meat.
Highlights
Sturgeons are fish species belonging to the Acipenseridae family originally distributed throughout the Northern hemisphere
Caviar was characterized as a product with high nutritional value, even if its composition showed some variations from species to species
In comparison with the same products obtained by wild sturgeon stocks, some relevant differences were detected, in the content of fatty acids that derive from aquafeed
Summary
Sturgeons are fish species belonging to the Acipenseridae family originally distributed throughout the Northern hemisphere. In Europe, they inhabited mainly in the large river systems of the. The construction of barriers and dams on rivers during the years has largely contributed to prevent the migration of these species during the reproductive season, as they live in brackish waters and migrate to freshwater rivers for spawning. The realization of quarries for the extraction of construction materials and water pollution have altered typical habitats dedicated to sturgeons’ reproduction. The over-exploitation of the natural resources for caviar production has contributed to a worldwide decline of fish stocks. In 1869, the artificial reproduction of sturgeon used to support the natural populations began, with the pioneering work of Ovsyannikov on Sterlet (A. ruthenus) in USSR. The basic techniques and practices of artificial reproduction of sturgeon were developed in the 1940’s and 50’s by Stroganov [2]. In recent decades specific farming techniques for sturgeons have been established, and under the strong pressure of market demand for Fishes 2020, 5, 9; doi:10.3390/fishes5010009 www.mdpi.com/journal/fishes
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