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Fatty acid composition of commercially important fish from Brazil

Composição em ácidos graxos de peixes comercialmente importantes do Brasil

Total fat and fatty acid composition of seven fresh-water and nine marine fish commercially important in Brazil were determined. Palmitic acid was the predominant saturated fatty acid in both freshwater and marine fish. In the fat from freshwater fish the total C-16 fatty acids were higher than in marine fish. Oleic acid was the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid and it was found in higher levels in freshwater fish. The data revealed that most freshwater fish from Brazil examined were a poor source of eicosapentaenoic (20:5) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids. Of the marine fish analysed, only sardine and manjuba could be recommended as a good sources of n-3 fatty acids.

fatty acids; fish; lipids; ômega-3


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