Seasonal variation in the chemical composition of horse-mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)

Chemical analysis was performed on samples of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus L.) caught monthly off the Portuguese coast throughout a period of one year (May 1997-April 1998). In the period between August and January the amount of total lipids present was recorded showing a minimum in February. Protein content remained fairly constant during the whole one-year period. Seasonal variation of lipid classes was followed and fatty acid profiles of total, polar and nonpolar lipids as well as that of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were determined. The non-polar lipids were the ever dominant group, mainly composed of triacylglycerols. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the main phospholipids mainly containing 20:5 omega3 and 22:6 omega3, but PE was richer in 22:6 omega3. Thus this species is all year long an adequate element of the traditional Portuguese diet, and contributes to the omega3 intake.