Fatty acid composition of total lipids in muscle tissues of nine freshwater fish from the River Tigris (Turkey)

Fatty acid compositions of total lipids in the muscle of 9 freshwater fish species were examined via gas chromatography. Palmitic acid and oleic acid were the predominant saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in all the species analyzed. The highest value of total SFA was detected in Liza abu (48.94%). Alburnus mossulensis had the greatest percentage of total MUFA (55.56%). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were the most abundant PUFA in all the species analyzed. Cyprinion macrostomus had the highest percentage (72.65%) of total PUFA. The ratio of ω3/ω6 PUFAs ranged from 0.39 to 3.53. Chondrostoma regium, Barbus rajonorum, Carasobarbus luteus, Leuciscus lepidus, Acanthobrama marmid, C. macrostomus, and Silurus triostegus may be preferable for a healthy diet as a result of their high C20:5ω3 and C22:6ω3 content. A. mossulensis and L. abu had an ω3/ω6 PUFAs ratio of less than 1. They are not as good a source of ω3 fatty acids as freshwater fish.