Seasonal variations of the fatty acid profiles in the edible portions of two freshwater fish species (Pseudophoxinus fahrettini and Capoeta mauricii)

Abstract

In this study, seasonal and sexual variations of fatty acid profiles of Pseudophoxinus fahrettini and Capoeta mauricii which are freshwater fishes in Turkey inland waters were investigated. The monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) values were higher than saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) values for both species. Also the ratios of MUFAs in P. fahrettini were higher than those of C. mauricii in all seasons. The results indicated that palmitic acid was the most dominant SFA for both species in all seasons. Oleic acid in the muscle of P. fahrettini and palmitoleic acid in the muscle of C. mauricii were the highest MUFA respectively in both genders in all seasons. The highest ratios of ω3 PUFAs were 23,00% in the muscle of C. mauricii in summer and 18,44% in P. fahrettini in winter. The ratios of ω3 PUFAs in muscles of both species and genders were higher than the ratios of ω6 PUFAs during all the seasons. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly higher than the other PUFAs in both sexes of the species. The ratio of ω3 PUFAs to ω6 PUFAs was higher than 1,76 in both species and genders in all seasons.