This work was carried out to evaluate the proximate composition and fatty acids acid profile of "lambari-do-rabo-vermelho" according to body weight class: I (3.24 - 4.46g); Class II (9.08 - 11.62g); Class III (15.8 - 18.89g) and Class IV (32.25 - 54.64g) with 25 fish each class of to determine the proximate and fatty acids compositions. No significant effects on the fish ash content into fish weight class were observed. Fish from Class I showed highest humidity and lowest whole body lipid levels compared to fish from classes II, III and IV. The highest level of lipid was observed in fish from Class IV and no differences were observed between fish from Classes II, III and IV. Palmitic (16:0) and oleic (18:1 n9) acids were the major saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, respectively, in the whole body, independently of fish weight class. The total amount of saturated fatty acids was higher (P <0.05) in the fish of Class I, which also showed higher levels of palmitic, linoleic and docohexaenoic acids. Fish from Class II, III and IV showed the highest level of n-3/n-6 ratio compared to fish from Class I, but all class of fish weigh analyzed were shown nutritional value satisfactory for human consumption in terms crude protein, lipids and n-3/n-6 and AGP/AGS ratios.
fish; human health; n-3/n-6; nutrition