15C-24 |
n-3 Fatty acid composition of commercial raw fish products |
D. A. ADAMS and L. Yu. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, 230 Gifford Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1571 The importance of n-3 fatty acids in the diet extends beyond their status as essential nutrients and vital components of phospholipids in cellular membranes. Epidemiological studies, randomized clinical trials, as well as in vitro and animal and human studies have increasingly shown positive effects on the prevention or progression of a wide variety of maladies. A partial list of disorders n-3 fatty acids have shown promising beneficial results for include coronary heart disease and arteriosclerosis (particularly well established antiarrhythmic effects), infant brain and retina development, Crohn disease, cancers of the breast, colon and prostrate as well as hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis.Based on the ever expanding data on n-3 fatty acids protective role in human health nutrition scientists recently recommended guidelines for combined eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DHA) intake of 0.65 g/d. This represents a roughly four-fold increase in fish consumption a week to meet the EPA/DHA guidelines. To help facilitate this recommendation the public will have to make informed choices on the types of fish to incorporate in their diet. In this study, five types of fish from a local supermarket were analyzed for their n-3 fatty acid composition using gas chromatographic method. The greatest EPA and DHA contents were detected in Red Snapper (45 mg/100 mg total fatty acids), and followed by Halibut, Atlantic Salmon, Mahi-Mahi (30, 25 and 24 mg/ 100 mg total fatty acids, respectively). No EPA or DHA was detected in Catfish. Furthermore, highest ratio of DHA/EPA was observed in Mahi-Mahi. The results from the present study indicate that it is possible to optimize the dietary n-3 fatty acid contents by selecting fish with desired fatty acid profile.
Session 15C, Food Chemistry: Food composition and analysis
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