Seasonal dynamics of fatty acid content of a common food fish from the Yenisei river, Siberian grayling, Thymallus arcticus

Seasonal variations of fatty acid contents in muscle tissue of one of the main food fish species in Siberian rivers, grayling, Thymallus arcticus, were studied over 3 years. Under a comparatively low range of water temperature variations, spawning appeared to be the main cause of seasonal changes in contents of quantitatively prominent and essential fatty acids in fish filets. In general, fish accumulated essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA), in their muscle tissue before reproductive seasons and then the PUFA seemed to be transferred into gonads during their formation. Hard roe of Siberian grayling had 3–4 times higher PUFA contents, than had that of the muscle tissue. The fish species, T. arcticus, was found to be a valuable source of the essential PUFA, including EPA and DHA, for human diet.