Can Different Body Tissues of Two Sea Cucumbers Supply a Fair Amount of Omega 3 for Health Benefit?

The lipid content and fatty acids profile of different tissues of Holothuria tubulosa and H. polii were analyzed to assess the suitability of the central Mediterranean species as a potential marine resource for fatty acids, in particular omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs). Simultaneously, their important indices for human health were evaluated. Gonad and respiratory tree had the highest lipid content, while the body had the lowest values. The results showed significant differences between species and among the different portions analyzed. Internal tunic and longitudinal muscle of H. tubulosa exhibited the highest PUFA proportion (55.3 and 46.4%, respectively). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and arachidonic acid (ARA, C20:4n-6) were the most abundant PUFAs in both species, with a favorable n-3/n-6 ratio in all tissues. The atherogenic and thrombogenicity indices and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic fatty acid ratio suggested the high-quality of this food, similar to the nutritional values of most popular fish.     

Fatty Acid Composition of U.S. West Coast Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) and the Effects of Canning and Short-Term Storage

ABSTRACT

Changes in the fatty acid composition of 13 bled and blast-frozen U.S. West Coast albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) were determined following custom-canning and 5 weeks of canned storage. In accordance with typical custom-canning procedures, no additional packing materials were used, and the product did not undergo a precooking step. Raw albacore tuna was found to be rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with an average of 9.1% (% wt of total fatty acids) EPA and 33.8% DHA. Canning and short-term storage did not cause major fluctuations in the fatty acid profiles of the albacore tuna, with no significant changes in the total fractions of saturated fatty acids (30–31%), monounsaturated fatty acids (19%), PUFAs (50%), or n-3 PUFAs (46–47%). On a tissue weight basis, U.S. West Coast albacore tuna was found to contain high levels of total n-3 PUFAs, with 3.3 g/100 g tissue in raw tuna and 4.0–4.1 g/100 g tissue in products that were canned and stored for 5 weeks.     

A quantitative comparison between diet and body fatty acid composition in wild northern pike (Esox lucius L.)

The fatty acid compositions of wild female northern pike (Esox lucius L.) and their principle prey species were compared to assess the extent to which pike modify the relative abundance of dietary fatty acids during assimilation and to indicate the optimum dietary content of essential fatty acids (EFAs) for pike. Only minor differences existed between the estimated whole body fatty acid composition of pike and diet fatty acid composition as calculated from the contribution of each prey species to the pike's diet. Saturated fatty acids comprised a slightly higher percentage of diet lipids (25% wt) than of pike lipids (21% wt) whereas monounsaturated fatty acids were less abundant in diet lipids (26% wt) than in pike (29% wt). Percentages of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n - 3 fatty acids, and n - 6 fatty acids were approximately 43, 30, and 13% wt respectively and differed by less than 1% wt between pike and diet lipids. Among individual PUFAs, the largest differences occurred in 20:5 (n-3) and 22:6(n-3) which comprised, on average, 9.6 and 14.7% wt respectively of diet lipids and 5.9 and 18.3% wt respectively of pike lipids. The close similarity in fatty acid composition between pike and their diet suggests that pike may have limited abilities to elongate and desaturate 18 carbon PUFAs and may require specific long chain PUFAs in the diet. The n-3 PUFA content of the pike's natural diet may exceed the minimum EFA requirements of better studied species such as rainbow trout and turbot.     

冬夏两季五种经济鱼类组织脂肪酸含量及组成分析

为了解不同季节不同鱼类不同组织中的不同脂肪酸含量,科学地指导鱼类膳食消费,本实验研究了冬夏两季,采集自上海市场常见的5种经济鱼类:大黄鱼(海洋肉食性),银鲳(海洋杂食性),日本鳗鲡(淡水肉食性),莫桑比克罗非鱼(淡水杂食性),草鱼(淡水草食性),分别检测鱼背部肌肉、腹部肌肉、尾部肌肉、肝脏和腹腔脂肪组织的脂肪含量和脂肪酸绝对含量。结果显示,5种鱼肌肉脂肪酸谱存在显著差异,并与各自的生活环境及食性均有关系;在鱼的腹腔脂肪或肝脏中,饱和脂肪酸(SFAs)和单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFAs)含量较高,且与组织脂肪含量密切相关;而多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFAs)、n-3系多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 PUFAs)和n-6系多不饱和脂肪酸(n-6 PUFAs)含量较低,且与组织脂肪含量关系不大;大黄鱼和银鲳各肌肉组织中的n-3 PUFAs、二十碳五烯酸(EPA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)含量以及n-3/n-6值高于莫桑比克罗非鱼和草鱼,并与组织脂肪含量呈正相关;冬季草鱼腹部肌肉、莫桑比克罗非鱼尾部肌肉以及日本鳗鲡和银鲳的肝脏中的n-3 PUFAs含量较夏季高。研究表明,脂肪酸组成与物种、食性、水域环境以及季节温度和组织部位均有关系。从补充n-3 PUFAs摄入的角度分析,日本鳗鲡、大黄鱼和银鲳营养价值高于莫桑比克罗非鱼和草鱼,冬季鱼类的营养价值高于夏季。     

Proximate Composition,Cholesterol, and Fatty Acid Content of Brown Shrimp (Crangon crangon L. 1758) from Sinop Region,Black Sea

Proximate composition, cholesterol, and fatty acid content of brown shrimp (Crangon crangon L. 1758) harvested from the Sinop region of the Black Sea in Turkey was determined. Crude protein, lipid, moisture, and ash contents were 18.47 ± 0.09 g/100 g, 0.95 ± 0.05 g/100 g, 79.21 ± 0.01 g/100 g, and 1.39 ± 0.01 g/100 g, respectively. Cholesterol content was 173.56 ± 0.24 mg/100 g. Fatty acid composition was 33.04% saturated (SFAs), 22.17% monounsaturated (MUFAs), and 29% polyunsaturated (PUFAs). Among the SFAs, palmitic acid (C16:0) was predominant at 20.69% of the total fatty acid composition. Oleic acid (C18:1) was the predominant MUFA (14.25%), and the highest PUFAs were eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), contributing 41% and 32% to the total PUFA content of the lipids, respectively. Thrombogenicity (TI) and atherogenicity (AI) index values were 0.31 and 1.34, respectively. The highest essential amino acids were leucine, lysine, valine, and isoleucine; while the highest levels of non-essential amino acids were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, and alanine, respectively.     

The Effects of Season and Site of Catch on Morphometric Characteristics,Mineral Content,and Fatty Acids of Sardines (Sardina pilchardus) Caught on the Algerian Coast

The variation of morphometrics, mineral content, and fatty acid composition of sardines was determined in relation to season and site of catch in the Mediterranean Sea. Sardines were caught in two regions of the Algerian coast: Mostaganem and Béni-Saf. In both sites, the contents of phosphorus (223 and 211 mg 100 g^?1) and sodium (95 and 10 mg 100 g^?1) were higher in June than in February. Total lipid content was related to the season, being low in winter (2.9%) and high in summer (11.3%). The fatty acid composition shows a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) dominated by n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA C20:5 n-3; 10%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA C22:6n-3; 25%). However, the content of n-6 fatty acids was relatively low both in winter (3.4%) and summer (4.7%). The saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was appreciable in sardines, which range from 34% to 37% according to season. This is in agreement with the literature related to the Mediterranean sardine.     

Muscle fatty acid composition and oxidative stress indices of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), in relation to dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and temperature

The influence of feeding high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on muscle fatty acid composition and indices of oxidative damage was examined in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.). All diets contained 100 g kg^?1 lipid of dry weight. Two diets contained marine fish oils giving a PUFA level of 250 g kg^?1 and 500 g kg^?1 of lipid. The remaining two diets contained vegetable oils high in either 18:2n-6 or 18:3n-3, giving a PUFA level of more than 500 g kg^?1 of dietary lipid. The charr were maintained at 8°C until their weight doubled, and were then transferred to 0.8°C for 30 days. Growth was similar in all groups. The fatty acid compositions of muscle were influenced by dietary PUFA but were less diverse than those of the diets. The overall pattern of fatty acid compositions indicated preferential desaturation and elongation of n-3 PUFA coupled with selective oxidation of 18:2n-6. Total n-3 PUFA content in TAG was always lowered compared with the diet, suggesting a specific mechanism for the removal of these fatty acids. Subjecting the fish to low temperature increased PUFA content in muscle of charr fed the 250 g kg^?1 marine n-3 PUFA diet, but had no effect on the other treatments. For fish at 8°C, no significant differences were found between groups in terms of haematocrit, plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), and plasma and muscle thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), although there was a tendency towards increased levels of TBARS in the group receiving 500 g kg^?1 marine n-3 PUFA of lipid. Subjecting the muscle to forced oxidative conditions resulted in increases in TBARS in all groups, particularly those fed 500 g kg^?1 marine n-3 PUFA. Lowering the environmental temperature corresponded with a further increase in the plasma ALAT and muscle TBARS in this group. It is concluded that feeding diets containing high levels of long-chain n-3 PUFA may be detrimental to the fish's health and flesh quality, particularly at low environmental temperatures.     

Seasonal Variations in Proximate and Fatty Acid Composition of Viscera of Sardinella aurita,Sarpa salpa,and Sepia officinalis from Tunisia

Seasonal variations of the proximate composition and fatty acid profiles in viscera from Sardinella aurita, Sarpa salpa, and Sepia officinalis were studied. Significant seasonal variations were observed in the amounts of moisture, lipid, protein, and ash between species. Viscera protein content undergoes large fluctuations. This tendency is different from results observed for the edible parts or for the whole body of many marine species. Ash content also showed significant differences. Lipid contents varied with seasons, in a proportionally inverse manner to water contents. Fatty acid composition showed significant differences from October to December. Interestingly, the highest total omega-3 contents were comparable to many commercial marine fish oils.     

海水鱼类亲体必需脂肪酸营养的研究进展

脂肪酸营养特别是其中的必需脂肪酸在海水鱼类生殖调控方面具有重要的生理作用。饲料中二十碳五烯酸(EPA)、二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)以及花生四烯酸(ARA)含量在调控海水鱼类性腺发育、排卵、孵化率及仔鱼质量等方面作用显著。本文主要从必需脂肪酸需求量、对繁殖性能影响、对机体脂肪酸存储影响及对内分泌调控作用4个方面归纳总结了海水鱼类亲体脂肪酸营养的研究概况,并重点分析探讨了在内分泌调控方面的研究进展,同时对后续的研究重点提出了一些建议。     

Fatty acid composition of New Zealand green-lipped mussels, Perna canaliculus: Implications for harvesting for n-3 extracts

Marine bivalves offer a potentially important source of long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for human health supplements. Lipid extracts from individual New Zealand green-lipped mussels (NZGLM) were analyzed as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by gas chromatography to assess geographical and seasonal differences between large (86 ± 1 mm) male and female and small (44 ± 1 mm) mussels. PUFAs dominated in spring and summer, comprising ∼ 50% of total fatty acids. Moreover, the commercially important n-3 fatty acids, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) together accounted for 70-79% of total PUFAs in spring and summer. During winter there was a marked decrease in condition and total n-3 PUFAs and a concomitant increase in saturated fatty acids in mussels, suggesting they had already spawned, had increased metabolic demands and limited PUFA-rich phytoplankton as food. While total n-3 content was not significantly different, there were geographical differences in individual n-3 fatty acids. Mussels collected from the cooler waters of Stewart Island had greater levels of 20:5n-3 (EPA), while those collected in Marlborough had greater concentrations of 22:6n-3 (DHA), which was attributed mainly to differences in phytoplankton composition. Total n-3 content and the condition index varied seasonally with greater concentrations of n-3 PUFAs, especially EPA, recorded in large mussels in spring, coincident with spring diatom blooms. Total PUFA levels and condition indices remained high in summer. There was no significant difference in condition indices, total n-3 content, DHA or EPA levels between large male and female mussels. Conversely, large mussels had significantly greater amounts of n-3 PUFAs than small mussels at Marlborough Sounds, while small mussels had marginally greater total n-3 concentrations than large mussels at Stewart Island. Taken together, these results suggest that the NZGLM offers a potentially important source of n-3 PUFAs for human health supplements. Our findings suggest that optimal harvesting conditions occur in spring when mussel condition and n-3 content peak for large mussels. Although DHA and EPA levels varied geographically, total n-3 content was not significantly different between sites, which implies that harvesting mussels for n-3 extracts would be driven more by logistical considerations.     

Variation in Chemical Composition of Oils from Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) Belly Flaps with Capture Site and Season

Fatty material from Nile perch belly flaps, a major processing by‐product, was assessed for variation in fat content, fatty acid composition, vitamin A content, and level of contaminants in relation to capture site and season. Nile perch from Lake Victoria had higher material yield and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) but lower content of vitamin A than those from Lake Albert. Levels of omega-3 FAs (4.36–20.20%) and vitamin A (2.83–7.88 mg/100 g of oil) were generally high. Levels of lead and cadmium showed significant variation with site. Material weight and vitamin A contents were higher, whereas FAs were lower in fish captured during the dry season than those in the wet season.     

Fatty Acids Profile,Atherogenic, Thrombogenic,and Polyene Lipid Indices in Golden Grey Mullet (Liza aurata) and Gold Band Goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis) from Mediterranean Sea

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to study the seasonal variations of the proximate compositions, fatty acids contents, and related lipid indices (atherogenic index [AI], thrombogenic index [TI], and polyene index [PI]) of golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) and gold band goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis) caught from the northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Proximate compositions and fatty acid contents of both fish species showed statistically significant seasonal variations (p < 0.05). The lipid contents were highest in autumn and lowest in winter in golden grey mullet and gold band goatfish. The main saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), palmiteoleic acid (C16:1n-7), oleic acid (18:1n-9c), arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3). The total polyunsaturated fatty acids in gold band goatfish did not show any differences among the seasons, whereas that in golden grey mullet was highest in winter. Levels of EPA, DHA, and n-3/n-6 ratios, as well as AI, TI, and PI, were significantly changed among seasons. The results show that golden grey mullet and gold band goatfish, which are among the important fish in Turkey and of commercial value, are a good source for human consumption in terms of their nutritional quality.     

The effect of culture on morphology, lipid and fatty acid composition, and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skin cells

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skin cell cultures were obtained by trypsinization of the tissue and grown in Leibovitz L-15 medium. Lipid class compositions, and fatty acid profiles of total lipids and individual phospholipid classes were determined at different times of culture. The metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was investigated by incubating primary cultures after 7 and 14 days with [1-¹⁴C]18:2n-6 and [1-¹⁴C-]18:3n-3. The change in morphology between epithelial-like primary cultures and fibroblastic-like secondary subcultures was accompanied by alterations in the lipid composition. Polar lipids became predominant by 14 days in culture. The relative proportions of phosphatidylcholine (PC), the most abundant phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol and cholesterol increased significantly, while sphingomyelin decreased. Saturated fatty acids, 18:1n-9, n-6 and n-9PUFA were more abundant in total lipid in cultures at 14 days and 4 months than in cells initially isolated which contained higher percentages of longer chain monoenes and n-3PUFA. The changes in fatty acid composition with time in culture were observed in all the major phospholipid classes. Rainbow trout skin cells in culture desaturated and elongated both 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3, with 20:4n-6 and 20:5n-3 being the most abundant products, respectively. PC presented the highest incorporation of radioactivity, especially following incubation with 18:3n-3. Lipid metabolism in general increased with the age of primary cultures, with both the amount of C18 PUFA incorporated and metabolized by desaturation/elongation significantly increased in 14 day cultures compared to 7 day cultures. Product/precursor ratios calculated for both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids showed that, while 6 desaturase activity was increased significantly with cell age, 5 desaturase activity was more affected by the fatty acid series, with 18:3n-3 being more readily transformed to 20:5n-3 than 18:2n-6 to 20:4n-6. Further desaturation of 20:5n-3 to hexaenes was low. Overall, the data suggested that the trout skin cell cultures were more similar to mammalian skin fibroblasts than mammalian epidermal/keratinocyte cultures.     

Fatty Acid Profiles of Different Shrimp Species: Effects of Depth of Catching

The aim of this study was to investigate fatty acid profiles of different shrimp species caught from deep water and shallow water. The shrimp species investigated in the study were Aristeus antennatus, Aristeomorpha foliacea, Plesionica martia, Parapenaeus longirostris, and Plesionica edwardsi from deep water; and Metapenaeus monoceros, Penaeus semisulcatus, Penaeus kerathurus, and Penaeus japonicus from shallow water.

Fatty acid composition of shrimps varied. The main fatty acids were C18:1n9, C16:0, C25:6n3, C22:5n3, and C18:0. Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents of P. longirostris, P. edwardsi, and M. monoceros were markedly different, respectively. The ratio of n6/n3 of the edible tissue of M. monoceros was found to be 0.795, whereas this value was 0.152 in A. foliacea. Among the species studied, the highest docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid value was found for P. kerathurus. The levels of PUFAs of shallow water shrimps (ranging from 33.44 to 42.77%) were found to be higher than those of deep water shrimps (ranging from 29.68 to 33.95%). Marine animals in the upper water layers gain nutrition through phytoplankton which provides n-3 PUFA depending on solar energy. Shallow water shrimp species provide a satisfying amount of PUFA.     

Nutritional Quality and Safety of the Important Commercial Cuttlefish Sepia lycidas

Proximate composition, amino acid, fatty acid composition, and contaminants (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) of the kisslip cuttlefish Sepia lycidas were determined and compared with the recommendations and maximum allowed levels. The ratio of essential amino acids (EAA) to nonessential amino acids (NEAA) was 0.82. All of the amino acid scores were > 100, except for valine (93), and the highest essential amino acid score was obtained for tryptophan (327). The fatty acids profile was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; 45.01% of total fatty acids), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 24.54% of total fatty acids) was the dominant fatty acid. S. lycidas was rich in n-3 PUFA, and the ratio of n-3/n-6 PUFA was 2.48. Regarding contaminants, As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in S. lycidas were 2.2, 0.28, and 0.02 mg kg^?1, respectively. Moreover, Hg values were below the detection limit (0.01 mg kg^?1).     

Preservation Methods for Retaining N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Alaska Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Products

Abstract

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) fillets were processed using five different methods (smoking, canning, freezing, acidifying, and salting) to evaluate the effect of preservation choice on the quality of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Salmon preserved by smoking, canning, or freezing retained higher values of total fatty acids, including n-3 PUFAs such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Salting and acidifying (pickling) treatments resulted in a significant decrease in PUFAs. The results of this study are intended to provide direction for handling and storage of salmon to retain the maximum levels of high-value n-3 PUFAs.     

Enrichment of C20-22 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Refined Liver Oil of Leafscale Gulper Shark,Centrophorus squamosus

The C_20-22 polyunsaturated fatty acids (C_20-22 PUFAs), mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), were concentrated from the refined liver oil of deep sea leafscale gulper shark, Centrophorus squamosus, by sequential processes of winterization, urea complexation, and argentation chromatography. Winterization at 4°C using acetonitrile as solvent showed significant reduction of the total saturated fatty acid content (12%) with a concomitant increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (36.3%). The urea complexation process significantly enriched the total polyunsaturated fatty acids (49.5%), with a reduction in saturated fatty acids (83.9%). Silica gel based argentation chromatography further concentrated the esters of C_20-22 PUFA (>99 percent purity). Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy was used as a chemical fingerprinting tool to study the enrichment of C_20-22 PUFAs at various stages of the purification process. An increase in the proton signal intensity at the olefinic region (at δ 4–6) and a decrease in the aliphatic signals (at δ 0.5–2) showed that the process successfully enriched the C_20-22 PUFAs.

Abbreviations: PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; FAME, fatty acid methyl esters; SFA, saturated fatty acid; MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; GCMS, gas chromatography mass spectrometry; FFA, free fatty acid.     

Effect of Season on Vitamin E,Fatty Acid Profile,and Nutritional Value of Fish By-Products from Cod,Saithe, Ling and Haddock Species Caught in Southern Irish Coastal Waters

ABSTRACT

The value of fish is largely dependent on fillet size and species but greater value could be obtained by finding commercial uses for the remaining fish frame, particularly fish by-products. Vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA), are of economic importance to the food and pharmaceutical industries and are available for extraction from fish waste. The objective of this study was to compare α-tocopherol levels and the fatty acid profile from several demersal species (cod, ling, saithe and haddock, n = 15) caught in Irish coastal waters over a one-year period (2001). α-Tocopherol levels in samples of liver, viscera and cut-off (any residual flesh from belly flap) were extracted and subsequently measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total fatty acids were extracted and determined by gas chromatography (GC). Results indicated that a-tocopherol levels in liver were higher (P < 0.05) than those in viscera or cut-off. Regardless of species, α-tocopherol levels were found in the following order: liver > viscera > cut-off. In general, α-tocopherol levels were highest in autumn and lowest in spring. Overall, percent free fatty acid levels recorded in liver and viscera samples were higher (P < 0.05) than those in cut-off samples. Percent free fatty acid varied significantly (P < 0.05) with each season, and was generally greater in autumn samples. An inverse relationship was observed between percent fat and moisture levels recorded in this study. The major fatty acids identified in each fish species and each by-product were 16:0 (palmitic), 18:0 (stearic), 18:1 (oleic) 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic, DHA). The highest percent of total identified fatty acids were reported in the autumn catch, including the highest EPA and DHA levels. Overall, liver samples had the highest levels of EPA and DHA.     

Comparison of fatty acid contents of wild and cultured rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Onchorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis> in Turkey

Abstract:   The total lipid content and fatty acid composition were determined in the flesh and skin of wild and cultured rainbow trout in Turkey. The effect of diet content was also investigated on cultured trout. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for fatty acid analyses. Total lipid content of skin was higher than flesh in both types and when compared appreciably higher in cultured fish. The predominant fatty acid was palmitic acid (C16:0) in saturated fatty acids and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) in monounsaturated fatty acids. The amount of eicosapentaenoic acid was double in wild and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 1.5 times higher in cultured fish flesh. The n-3/n-6 ratio was higher in cultured fish than wild fish. The levels of palmitic, oleic, linoleic (C18:2n-6) and palmitoleic (C16:1n-7) acids were high in skin. The level of EPA was the same in skin of wild fish but 5.5 times higher in cultured fish, whereas the proportion of DHA in skin was lower for wild and 3.5 times higher in cultured fish. Wild fish had a high level of linoleic, arachidonic (C20:4n-6) and linolenic (C18:3n-3) acids. The total amount of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher in flesh of wild fish than cultured fish, contrary to skin of cultured fish. The data obtained demonstrated that fatty acid composition of cultured fish did not depend on that of feed.     

Effects of dietary (n-3) and (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio on the immune response of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

To examine the influence of the dietary ratio of (n-3) to (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the immune system of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., two dietary trials were carried out in which parr were maintained on diets containing either fish oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 5.2] or sunflower oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 0.3] and assessed for differences in immunological parameters. There were no significant differences in blood cell counts, differential leucocyte counts or haematocrit values between dietary groups, and while no apparent differences were observed in the non-specific immune parameters measured, there was a significantly higher number of B cells responding to Aeromonas salmonicida, in the kidney and spleen of vaccinated fish maintained on high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFAs diets. There was also a significant difference (P≤ 0.01) between the dietary groups in trial 1 and trial 2 when non-vaccinated fish were challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum, respectively, with the (n-6) group succumbing to the bacterium before the (n-3) group. The results suggest that Atlantic salmon fed diets with a low ratio of (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA may be less resistant to infection than those fed diets containing lipid with a high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA ratio.