Fatty acid composition of total lipids, neutral lipids and phospholipids in wild and farmed matrinxa (Brycon cephalus) in the Brazailian Amazon area

BACKGROUND: The chemical composition of Amazonian fish is extremely variable, being influenced by the season and the type and amount of food. A special interest in the fish oil composition has been developed owing to the presence of essential fatty acids, since this is directly related to human health. This study aimed to investigate the fatty acid composition (FAC) of the total lipid (TL), neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipid (PL) fractions of the dorsal muscle and orbital cavity of farmed and wild matrinxa in the Amazon area captured in different seasons. RESULTS: Fatty acids (FA) were analysed by high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Sixty-five FA were detected in the TL, 66 in the NL and 55 in the PL. The main FA found in farmed and wild fish were oleic, palmitic, stearic and linoleic acids. No distinctions in the quality or quantity of these fractions between dorsal muscle and orbital cavity were found. CONCLUSION: The season had a significant influence on the TL and FAC. Fish captured during the dry season showed lower levels of lipid and a higher percentage of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Matrinxa farmed in a semi-intensive system showed a nutritional quality comparable to that of wild matrinxa captured in the wet A season. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.