International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition,

September 2009; 60(6): 464
475

Fat content and fatty acid compositions of 34 marine

water fish species from the Mediterranean Sea

YESIM OZOGUL1, FATIH OZOGUL1, ERDOGAN CICEK2,

ABDURRAHMAN POLAT1 & ESMERAY KULEY1
1
Department of Fishing and Processing Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, University of Cukurova,
Adana, Turkey, and 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Letters, University of
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Gaziantep, Adana, Turkey

Abstract
Fish is the best source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), specifically n-3 fatty acids,
especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The objective of the present study
was to determine the fat content and fatty acid compositions of 34 marine water fish species
from the Mediterranean Sea. The fatty acid compositions of fish consisted of 30.10
46.88%
saturated fatty acids, 11.83
38.17% monounsaturated fatty acids and 20.49
49.31% PUFA. In
most species, the following fatty acids were identified: mystiric acid (C14:0, 0.72
8.09%),
pentadecanoic acid (15:0, 0.05
2.35%), palmitic acid (C16:0, 15.97
31.04%), palmitoleic acid
For personal use only.

(C16:1, 1.48
19.61%), heptadecanoic acid (C17:0, 0.31
1.84%), cis-10-heptadecenoic acid

(C17:1, 0.17
2.01%), stearic acid (C18:0, 2.79
11.20%), oleic acid (C18:1n9, 2.44
28.97%),
linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, 0.06
3.48%), arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, 0.12
10.72%), cis-
5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, 1.94
10%) and cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahex-
aenoic acid (C22:6n-3, 3.31
31.03%). The proportions of n-3 PUFA ranged from 12.66% for
annular seabream to 36.54% for European hake, whereas the proportions of PUFA n-6 were
between 1.24% for oceanic puffer and 12.76% for flathead mullet. The results of this study
show that these fish species were rich in n-3 PUFA, especially, eicosapentaenoic acid and
docosahexaenoic acid.

Keywords: Fatty acids, gas chromatography capillary, marine water fish, eicosapentaenoic acid,
docosahexaenoic acid

Introduction
It is well known that fish oil is the major and the best source of polyunsaturated fatty
acids (PUFA), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA). These fatty acids are of great importance to humans for prevention of
coronary artery disease, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and arrhythmias
(Kinsella 1987; Simopoulos 1991; Conner 2000; Leaf et al. 2003; Schmidt et al.
2005). Therefore, the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association
recommends consumption of any type of fish two or three times a week (Kris-
Etherton et al. 2003).

Correspondence: Associate Prof. Yesm Ozogul, Department of Fishing and Processing Technology, Faculty
of Fisheries, University of Cukurova, 01330 Balcal, Adana, Turkey. Tel: 90 322 3386084, ext. 2961. Fax:
90 322 3386439. E-mail: yozogul@cu.edu.tr

ISSN 0963-7486 print/ISSN 1465-3478 online # 2009 Informa UK Ltd

DOI: 10.1080/09637480701838175
 Fat content and fatty acid compositions of marine water fish 465

The lipid content and fatty acid profile of fish vary between and within species
even in dark and white muscle, which are affected by many factors such as the
temperature, salinity, season, size, age, species habitat, lifestage, and the type and
abundance of food, especially whether a species is herbivorous, omnivorous or
carnivorous (Gruger 1967; Ackman 1989; Sargent et al. 1995; Saito et al. 1999;
Chaouch et al. 2003).
Several studies concerning the fatty acid composition and total lipid content in fish
have been conducted (Ackman and McLeod 1988; Body and Vlieg 1989; Zlatanos
and Sagredos 1993; Saglik and Imre 2001). In our previous research, fatty acid
profiles of some marine water and freshwater fish species were investigated (Ozogul
and Ozogul 2007; Ozogul et al. 2007). The aim of this research was to determine the
lipid content and fatty acid compositions of 34 different marine water fish species
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from the Mediterranean Sea.

Materials and methods

Sample preparation
Thirty-four fish species were caught by trawler in the Mediterranean Sea and
immediately iced. Fish were then transported to the laboratory for analysis. The
species caught are presented in Table I. A minimum of three individuals from each
species were gutted, filleted and minced for analyses.
For personal use only.

Fatty acid methyl esters analyses (FAME)

Lipid extraction was performed according to the method of Bligh and Dyer (1959).
Methyl esters were prepared by transmethylation using 2 M KOH in methanol and n-
heptane according to the method described by Ichihara et al. (1996) with minor
modifications. Twenty milligrams mg of extracted oil was dissolved in 2 ml n-heptane
followed by 4 ml of 2 M methanolic KOH. The tube was then vortexed for 2 min at
room temperature. After centrifugation at 4,000 rpm for 10 min, the n-heptane layer
was taken for gas chromatography analyses.

Gas chromatographic conditions

The fatty acid composition was analysed by a GC Clarus 500 with an autosampler
(Perkin Elmer, Shelton, CT, USA) equipped with a flame ionization detector and a
fused silica capillary SGE column (30 m 0.32 mm ID 0.25 mm BP20 0.25 UM;
(Perkin Elmer, Shelton, CT, USA). The oven temperature was 1408C held for 5
min, raised to 2008C at a rate of 48C/min and then to 2208C at a rate of 18C/min,
while the injector and detector temperatures were set at 2208C and 2808C,
respectively. The sample size was 1 ml and the carrier gas was controlled at 16 ps.
The split used was 1:50. Fatty acids were identified by comparing the retention
times of FAME (catalogue number 18919; Supelco) with the standard 37-
component FAME mixture. Two replicate gas chromatographic analyses were
performed and the results expressed in the gas chromatographic area percentage
as a mean value9standard deviation.
 466 Y. Ozogul et al.

Results and discussion

Tables I and II present the fat content and the fatty acid compositions of a range of
marine water fish species, respectively. Fish are the most important dietary source of
highly unsaturated fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA. Many studies have
demonstrated the health benefits of a diet rich in fish (Kinsella et al. 1977; Moffat
and McGill 1993). However, fish are not capable of synthesizing long-chain n-3
PUFA. Fish feed on microorganisms (such as algae) or on smaller fish that consume
PUFA-synthesizing micro-organisms, thus acquiring long-chain n-3 PUFA (Lunn and
Theobald 2006). Essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and linolenic
acid (18:3n-3), are of great physiological importance. These essential fatty acids either
oxidize or accumulate in the adipose tissues or are converted into long-chain highly
unsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6), EPA and DHA via fatty
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acid desaturation and elongation steps at the microsomal level (Mohrhauer and
Holman 1963; Cook 1996). However, farmed fish do not have access to supply of the

Table I. Fat contents of marine water fish species.

Marine water fish species English name Lipid content (%)

Alectis alexandrinus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) African threadfish 1.3290.37

Aspitrigla cuculus (Linnaeus, 1758) East Atlantic red gurnard 0.8790.17
Balistes capriscus (Gmelin, 1789) Grey triggerfish 0.5390.02
Boops salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) Salema 0.9590.03
For personal use only.

Bothus podas (Delaroche, 1809) Wide-eyed flounder 0.4790.12

Caranx chrysos (Mitchill, 1815) Blue runner 6.1790.03
Chelon labrosus (Risso, 1827) Thicklip grey mullet 1.5190.02
Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1758) Annular seabream 2.5290.5
Diplodus puntazzo (Cetti, 1777) Sharpsnout seabream 0.9290.08
Diplodus vulgaris (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) Common two-banded seabream 1.0490.08
Echelus myrus (Linnaeus, 1758) Painted eel 4.4290.29
Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822) Orange-spotted grouper 0.9790.06
Helicolenus dacthlopterus (Delaroche, 1809) Blackbelly rosefish 0.8090.23
Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Oceanic puffer 0.7890.06
Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) Striped seabream 1.2190.39
Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) Golden grey mullet 2.2990.08
Liza carinata (Valenciennes, 1836) Keeled mullet 10.6790.0
Liza ramado (Risso, 1810) Thinlip mullet 1.3490.03
Liza saliens (Risso, 1810) Leaping mullet 0.3090.04
Lophius budegassa (Spinola, 1807) Black-bellied angler 0.4290.13
Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) European hake 0.7690.0
Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Flathead mullet 2.1390.3
Mycteroperca rubra (Bloch, 1793) Mottled grouper 0.7290.03
Pagrus caeruleostictus (Valenciennes, 1830) Bluespotted seabream 1.0290.06
Pegusa lascaris (Risso, 1810) Sand sole 1.0790.3
Phycis phycis (Linnaeus, 1766) Forkbeard 0.5590.03
Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) Brushtooth lizardfish 1.0890.12
Sillago sihama (Forsskal, 1775) Silver sillago 1.4390.0
Sphyraena chrysotaenia (Klunzinger, 1884) Yellowstripe barracuda 3.1590.46
Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758) European barracuda 8.2390.05
Spicara maena (Linnaeus, 1758) Blotched picarel 3.2090.28
Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Derbio 1.8090.09
Umbrina cirrosa (Linnaeus, 1758) Shi drum 0.9290.0
Upenus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1855) Goldbond goatfish 2.0890.0
 Fat content and fatty acid compositions of marine water fish 467
Table II. Fatty acid profiles of fish species.

Fatty Keeled Golden Flathead Leaping Thinlip

acid (%) mullet grey mullet mullet mullet mullet

C12:0 0.1690.01 0.3890.03 0.2790.01 0.0890.0 0.1290.0

C14:0 7.2590.0 7.8190.24 8.0990.07 2.7490.02 5.4390.19
C15:0 2.2390.35 1.5690.05 0.6790.01 0.7090.01 1.4290.03
C16:0 23.7992.52 25.8790.13 27.1690.04 23.2790.29 25.6290.60
C17:0 1.2990.18 1.2090.07 0.3190.01 0.5690.01 0.8990.09
C18:0 2.7990.01 2.8990.20 2.8990.09 8.4490.33 4.4190.20
C20:0 0.1290.01 0.0990.01 0.0690
0.9390.05
C22:0 0.1090.0




C23:0
0.1990.0 0.1890
0.1090.04
C24:0 1.4990.09 2.2290.07 1.9490.04 6.5490.55 2.4890.08
a SFA 40.51 42.21 41.57 42.33 41.40
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C14:1 0.0690 0.0590.0 0.0590.0
0.0990.01

C15:1 0.2490.07 0.1090.01

0.1590.0
C16:1 19.6190.09 16.5990.31 15.2290.20 6.2490.01 13.3190.42
C17:1 1.5190.06 1.3590.01 0.1790.01 0.4290.01 1.2090.15
C18:1 2.4490.12 4.2190.07 3.7590.0 18.3791.59 7.8690.52
C20:1 0.4990.05 0.1690.01 0.0890.01 0.2790.01 0.5290.05
C22:1n9 0.0990.01 0.0990.01 0.0890.02
0.0790.01
C24:1
a MUFA 24.44 22.55 19.35 25.30 23.20
C18:2 n-6 1.5690.07 1.6990.07 2.0190.02 1.4790.05 1.8490.04
C18:3 n-6 1.3290.03 0.1090.01 0.0390.0 0.1090.01 0.1390.01
For personal use only.

C18:3 n-3 0.9390.02 0.0790.0 0.0490.01 0.0990.01 0.1190.02

C18:4 n-3 0.3790.03 0.3990.02
0.3590.02 0.2590.01
C20:2 cis 0.0890.0 0.0990.04 0.1890.0 0.1390.0 0.1890.0
C20:3 n-6
0.0490.0



C20:3 n-3 0.0990.01 0.0690.0 0.0990.01
C20:4 n-6 5.5790.50 5.9690.10 10.7290.09 1.2290.2 3.6190.05
C20:5 n-3 9.4490.30 10.0090.0 9.2790.0 7.7390.41 7.7790.25
C22:2 cis





C22:6 n-3 4.3590.07 3.3190.39 4.6990.12 14.0990.79 8.8590.18
a PUFA 23.71 21.71 26.94 25.18 22.83
PUFA/SFA 0.58 0.51 0.64 0.59 0.55
an-6 8.45 7.79 12.76 2.79 5.58
an-3 15.18 13.83 14.0 22.26 16.98
n-6/n-3 0.55 0.56 0.91 0.12 0.32
DHA/EPA 0.46 0.33 0.50 1.82 1.13
Unidentified 11.34 13.53 12.14 7.19 12.57

Thicklip
grey mullet Forkbeard European hake Annular seabream East Atlantic red

C12:0
0.0490.0 0.1190.01 0.1590.05 0.0590.0

C14:0 3.3790.35 1.4990.17 2.5990.14 3.9590.07 2.1490.01
C15:0
0.7990.07 0.9990.05
0.5790.03
C16:0 25.7792.56 21.5791.49 21.9391.03 21.6890.56 21.9990.06
C17:0 1.8490.22 1.1690.06 1.0290.07 1.0490.03 1.2190.0
C18:0 8.5990.81 8.0690.0 6.3290.02 7.6890.22 6.7890.09
C20:0 0.8790.10 0.0890.0
0.2290.01 0.2090.01
C22:0





C23:0 1.3890.08

0.1490.02

C24:0
1.9890.04
2.7690.06 1.5290.04
a SFA 41.82 35.17 32.96 37.62 34.46
 468 Y. Ozogul et al.
Table II (Continued)

C14:1


0.0990.01 0.1090.01

C15:1
0.0390.0



C16:1 6.9290.84 4.1090.15 5.1090.22 6.7790.06 6.2190.28
C17:1 1.5390.17 0.7890.03 0.9590.01 0.7590.05 0.5590.07
C18:1 15.8992.49 8.7691.25 12.4291.19 18.2890.02 20.0191.53
C20:1 0.4590.03

1.8690.08 1.0490.01
C22:1n9
0.1490.0
0.1290.02 0.1390.01
C24:1




a MUFA 24.79 13.81 18.47 27.87 28.04
C18:2 n-6 1.2690.13 0.7790.02 1.0590.05 0.7690.09 0.7890.04
C18:3 n-6 0.7890.11 0.2590.03 0.0690.0 0.1290.0 0.0790.01
C18:3 n-3 0.4790.05 0.2490.01 3.6890.08 0.1390.04 0.1490.03
C18:4 n-3
0.1190.0 0.1290.01 0.2990.05 0.1490.0
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C20:2 cis 4.3490.15 0.2290.01 0.3690.02 0.3590.05 0.1890.02

C20:3 n-6





C20:3 n-3

0.1090.01 0.0390.0 0.0590.0
C20:4 n-6
4.3690.18 3.6890.08 4.6590.35 2.8290.14
C20:5 n-3 7.8190.67 4.6790.23 5.8190.14 5.3890.08 2.8490.17
C22:2 cis 1.8590.03


0.1290.0
C22:6 n-3 6.6391.18 31.0391.17 26.8391.00 8.7890.22 22.6690.46
a PUFA 23.14 41.65 41.69 20.49 29.80
PUFA/SFA 0.55 1.18 1.26 0.54 0.86
an-6 2.04 5.38 4.79 5.56 3.67
an-3 14.91 36.05 36.54 14.61 25.83
n-6/n-3 0.13 0.14 0.13 0.38 0.14
For personal use only.

DHA/EPA 0.84 6.64 4.61 1.63 7.97

Unidentified 10.25 9.37 6.88 14.02 7.70

Derbio Salema European Common two

barracuda banded seabream

C12:0 0.1090.01 0.0490.0 0.0590.0 0.0790.01

C14:0 4.8590.0 4.0990.47 4.7790.02 2.3490.18
C15:0 0.4890.07 0.6490.02 0.4990.01 0.0590.01
C16:0 22.9090.28 26.3090.67 25.6590.43 19.4590.68
C17:0 1.4490.02 0.7990.05 0.5790.02 1.0590.04
C18:0 10.2190.02 7.5590.13 6.2890.16 8.7890.29
C20:0 0.3690.01 1.4490.13 0.5490.02 0.1990.01
C22:0




C23:0 0.1190.05
0.0990.0 0.1990.01
C24:0 3.6390.08 6.0390.16 0.7490.03 2.2290.02
a SFA 44.08 46.88 39.18 34.34
C14:1 0.0590.0
0.1090.0

C15:1 0.4990.05 0.1290.0


C16:1 4.5790.11 4.6790.28 7.0990.34 3.7690.04
C17:1 0.5290.02 0.3690.05 0.4090.04 0.4290.01
C18:1 13.8990.13 11.7291.91 28.9790.77 9.7291.13
C20:1 2.2490.0 0.1590.0 0.2090.02 2.2190.13
C22:1n9 0.2390.09

0.2090.02
C24:1
a MUFA 21.99 17.02 36.76 16.31
C18:2 n-6 0.0690.02 1.6790.02 0.8190.03 0.8990.04
C18:3 n-6 0.1390.03 0.2490.02 0.1290.06 0.0990.0
C18:3 n-3 0.1090.01 0.1490.01 0.2090.05 0.1890.02
C18:4 n-3 0.1790.04 0.7190.0 0.0690.0 0.1990.02
 Fat content and fatty acid compositions of marine water fish 469
Table II (Continued)

C20:2 cis 0.4390.01 0.2490.0 0.0790.0 0.3190.03

C20:3 n-6


0.0990.0
C20:3 n-3 0.0790.0 0.1190.01


C20:4 n-6 2.1390.01 9.2890.84 1.1790.09 6.8090.26
C20:5 n-3 1.9490.0 9.1490.50 3.0790.06 5.3090.13
C22:2 cis 0.2890.07

0.3590.0
C22:6 n-3 18.3990.42 6.9190.13 15.2891.32 21.9390.07
a PUFA 23.70 28.44 20.78 36.13
PUFA/SFA 0.53 0.60 0.53 1.05
an-6 2.32 11.19 2.1 7.87
an-3 20.67 17.01 18.61 27.6
n-6/n-3 0.11 0.65 0.11 0.28
DHA/EPA 9.47 0.75 4.97 4.13
Unidentified 10.23 7.66 3.28 13.22
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African Blackbelly
Blue runner Blotched picarel Painted eel threadfish rosefish

C12:0 0.0590.01 0.0590.01 0.1390.0 0.0990.01 0.1490

C14:0 1.8390.08 3.7190.04 4.4690.01 1.9290.06 3.3190.15
C15:0 1.1390.01 1.3390.02 1.0390.0 0.8990.03 0.5790.03
C16:0 20.3290.64 20.4890.25 23.7490.42 26.9490.22 20.9790.73
C17:0 1.6990.10 1.1290.02 0.6790.01 1.3690.01 0.7890.21
C18:0 9.0190.13 5.6390.04 4.6890.10 8.4590.06 8.7890.07
C20:0 0.2890.01 0.1890.0 0.1590.01 0.3290.01 0.3390.03
C22:0





For personal use only.

C23:0





C24:0 1.5190.07 0.7990.0 1.2390.03 1.8290.12 1.4290.01
a SFA 35.82 33.29 36.09 41.79 36.30
C14:1
0.0790.0 0.1590.0
0.0890.0
C15:1





C16:1 4.8190.09 5.8890.30 8.0890.31 8.4090.13 5.8990.18
C17:1 2.0190.06 0.5890.01 1.1890.06 0.9990.02 0.5690.16
C18:1 11.3591.90 14.3890.03 28.2590.90 18.0490.11 28.1290.97
C20:1 0.4590.03 0.4490.02 0.4190.02 0.2490.0 2.1490.22
C22:1n9 0.1690.0
0.1090.0 0.3390.02 0.2190.0
C24:1
a MUFA 18.78 21.35 38.17 28.00 37.00
C18:2 n-6 0.8190.04 1.2490.02 0.7590.0 0.7590.12 0.7890.08
C18:3 n-6 0.0790.0 0.0790.01 0.3190.05 0.0790.01 0.2490.03
C18:3 n-3 0.3290.01 0.7690.04 0.1290.01 0.1590.0 0.2090.02
C18:4 n-3 0.1390.01
0.1190.0 0.1090.03 0.0990.0
C20:2 cis 0.2690.02
0.2190.0 0.2490.0 0.2490.02
C20:3 n-6
0.2090.01



C20:3 n-3





C20:4 n-6 6.1890.48 2.0290.03 2.8590.13 4.1790.14 2.5190.30
C20:5 n-3 6.2090.39 5.0290.02 3.6890.03 6.5990.07 2.2090.19
C22:2 cis





C22:6 n-3 23.5191.57 27.8690.62 13.4690.04 9.6090.53 16.1290.43
a PUFA 37.48 37.17 21.49 21.67 22.38
PUFA/SFA 1.04 1.11 0.59 0.51 0.61
an-6 7.06 3.53 3.91 4.99 3.53
an-3 30.16 33.64 17.37 16.44 18.61
n-6/n-3 0.23 0.10 0.22 0.30 0.18
DHA/EPA 3.79 5.54 3.65 1.45 7.32
Unidentified 7.92 8.19 4.41 8.54 4.32
 470 Y. Ozogul et al.
Table II (Continued)

Grey Black
bellied Silver sillago Yellowstripe

triggerfish angler barracuda

C12:0 0.1190.01 0.1190.02 0.1890.03 0.1590.0

C14:0 2.6590.21 3.8190.52
3.2690.14
C15:0 0.7990.05 1.3090.14 1.3790.14 1.2290.03
C16:0 25.9891.66 25.9992.40 24.0990.29 27.1490.71
C17:0 0.4090 0.7190.04 0.3290.02 1.3590.01
C18:0 10.7190.23 7.1890.11 6.9790.13 7.9890.04
C20:0
0.6190.23 0.2990.02 0.4990.0
C22:0


0.1190.07
C23:0
0.0790.0
0.1190.0
C24:0 2.9790.09 1.4290.08 2.3290.12 0.1590.0
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a SFA 43.61 41.20 42.39 42.04

C14:1

0.1590.06 0.0890.01
C15:1
0.1190.0
0.1090.07
C16:1 6.1690.41 9.3191.09 10.3190.26 7.2690.26
C17:1 1.3690.16 0.6890.06 1.1390.04 0.7990.03
C18:1 12.7091.76 7.7791.18 10.4790.44 10.9790.55
C20:1 0.2490.0 0.2690.01 1.8890.02 0.5790.01
C22:1n9
0.1390.0
0.1890.03
C24:1


4.5290.0
a MUFA 20.46 18.26 23.94 24.47
C18:2 n-6 0.7890.04 1.1890.06 0.8390.06 0.8890.02
C18:3 n-6 0.2390.02 0.3690.11 0.2290.02 0.2590.02
For personal use only.

C18:3 n-3 0.2790.01 0.3290.01 0.1490.02 0.3190.03

C18:4 n-3
0.1590.02


C20:2 cis
0.1190.02 0.2690.06 0.3390.01
C20:3 n-6
0.1390.01
0.1290.0
C20:3 n-3
0.3090.0
0.1390.06
C20:4 n-6 6.3190.37 4.8690.08 4.6690.42 2.4290.05
C20:5 n-3 4.4290.30 5.1390.15 8.7090.20 4.6990.15
C22:2 cis

0.0390.01 0.1190.01
C22:6 n-3 16.2490.73 19.9390.85 10.6790.42 13.4090.12
a PUFA 28.25 32.47 25.51 22.64
PUFA/SFA 0.64 0.78 0.60 0.53
an-6 7.32 6.53 5.71 3.67
an-3 20.93 25.83 19.51 18.53
n-6/n-3 0.34 0.25 0.29 0.19
DHA/EPA 3.67 3.88 1.22 2.85
Unidentified 7.68 8.07 8.16 10.85

Wide
eyed floun- Mottled Goldbond Annular

Shi drum der grouper goatfish seabream

C12:0 0.0590.02 0.1890.03 0.1190.0

C14:0 2.3890.01 0.7490.08 2.5490.13 2.8590.05 3.0190.04
C15:0

1.1190.03 1.2990.05 2.3590.02
C16:0 26.8090.14 17.2090.95 22.0590.15 31.0491.02 22.1890.18
C17:0 1.6490.01 1.6390.06 1.2890.02 0.4190.01 1.2190.01
C18:0 7.8290.03 10.1690.16 8.8690.04 7.5090.20 7.1990.02
C20:0 1.0390.02 0.5190.06 0.2290.01 0.4190.09 0.8490.06
C22:0



0.4890.09
C23:0 1.2190.03 2.8090.06 0.1390.01
1.0590.01
C24:0

1.3990.11 1.0390.02

 Fat content and fatty acid compositions of marine water fish 471
Table II (Continued)

a SFA 40.88 33.94 37.63 44.71 38.42

C14:1



0.1390.01
C15:1



0.0790.01
C16:1 5.9890.07 2.2190.05 5.9190.46 6.1090.21 5.8590.06
C17:1 1.0290.06 0.6690.04 1.0590.08 1.7490.06 1.6190.02
C18:1 15.4690.17 8.2391.68 8.7790.20 9.7990.33 22.8790.18
C20:1 0.5190.02 0.4490.12 0.3790.06 1.0390.17 0.3390.02
C22:1n9
0.3490.04 0.1090.04
0.1890.0
C24:1





a MUFA 22.97 11.87 16.20 18.66 31.04
C18:2 n-6 0.8990.02 0.6390.05 1.1990.12 0.9290.07 3.2690.01
C18:3 n-6 0.6890.01 0.0790.0 0.0390.01 0.0590.0 0.3790.01
C18:3 n-3 0.4290.01 0.2190.0 0.3390.01 0.2990.06 0.4390.0
Int J Food Sci Nutr Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Queen's University on 10/05/13

C18:4 n-3

0.0990.02

C20:2 cis 3.1890.03 9.1390.10
0.2790.07 3.0590.02
C20:3 n-6





C20:3 n-3





C20:4 n-6 0.1290.02 1.0990.01 4.8690.54 2.5690.12 0.2790.01
C20:5 n-3 6.5290.12 7.9590.10 7.8690.35 4.9590.08 3.4490.02
C22:2 cis 0.7790.02 3.4390.23

1.2290.0
C22:6 n-3 17.0390.13 26.8090.01 22.2990.41 19.9990.76 8.7990.04
a PUFA 29.61 49.31 36.65 29.03 20.83
PUFA/SFA 0.72 1.45 0.97 0.64 0.54
an-6 1.69 1.79 6.08 3.53 3.9
an-3 23.97 34.96 30.57 25.23 12.66
For personal use only.

n-6/n-3 0.07 0.05 0.19 0.13 0.3

DHA/EPA 2.61 3.37 2.83 4.03 2.55
Unidentified 6.54 4.88 9.52 7.60 9.71

Brushtooth Bluespotted Oceanic Striped

lizardfish Sand sole seabream puffer seabream

C12:0
0.0490.0 0.0390.01 0.0490.01 0.1690.05

C14:0 3.6590.51 0.8190.05 1.2990.02 0.7590.05 0.7290.04
C15:0
0.7790.02 0.5490.02


C16:0 25.5093.62 18.5290.13 21.5390.10 17.3090.67 15.9790.88
C17:0 1.4690.22 0.9690.01 1.2190.04 1.1690.04 0.7790.03
C18:0 9.0891.16 8.5690.03 11.2090.12 10.6990.12 7.3590.12
C20:0 1.4590.21 0.2990.0 0.3490.01 0.5390.05

C22:0
0.0990.03 0.1090.01


C23:0
0.0490.01 0.1390.04 2.9490.06

C24:0


3.0390.03
a SFA 41.14 30.10 36.38 33.41 28.00
C14:1

0.0190.0


C15:1
0.0790.01 0.0990.0 0.5790.0

C16:1 6.9091.02 2.3390.10 3.1890.05 2.2590.12 1.4890.03
C17:1 1.1490.18 0.8090.0 0.4490.01 0.7790.03 0.5090.06
C18:1 9.3990.63 10.1790.0 14.8790.01 11.9492.41 9.8590.09
C20:1 0.6490.08 0.5390.02 0.2490.0 0.3690.02

C22:1n9
0.0890.0 0.0990.01


C24:1

0.0990.0


a MUFA 18.07 13.98 19.01 15.89 11.83
C18:2 n-6 1.7190.23 0.7890.01 0.8990.07 0.8390.24 3.4890.33
C18:3 n-6 0.8990.19 0.1290.01 0.1190.01 0.1890.0

C18:3 n-3 0.4790.07 0.1390.01 0.1490.02 0.1290.01 0.2490.03
 472 Y. Ozogul et al.
Table II (Continued)

C18:4 n-3





C20:2 cis 5.1890.88 0.2790.01 0.0390.02 8.9790.21 9.2490.11
C20:3 n-6
0.2390.03 0.0790.0


C20:3 n-3
0.4590.02 0.1190.07


C20:4 n-6 0.4490.08 8.4790.06 5.2490.15 0.2390.01 2.0890.07
C20:5 n-3 5.3991.05 3.7690.0 3.7690.05 3.5790.12 7.1590.05
C22:2 cis 1.8790.34 0.0590.01 0.0690.02 2.4490.04

C22:6 n-3 11.4092.41 26.1690.57 18.9990.26 24.2790.57 23.7090.10
a PUFA 27.35 40.42 29.40 40.61 45.89
PUFA/SFA 0.66 1.34 0.80 1.21 1.63
an-6 3.04 9.6 6.31 1.24 5.56
an-3 17.26 30.5 23 27.96 31.09
n-6/n-3 0.17 0.31 0.27 0.04 0.17
DHA/EPA 2.11 6.95 5.05 6.79 3.31
Int J Food Sci Nutr Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Queen's University on 10/05/13

Unidentified 13.44 15.50 15.21 10.09 14.28

n-3 PUFA-synthesizing algae and smaller fish. Therefore, they should be provided
with fish oils rich in long-chain n-3 PUFA as part of their diet. In this study, the lipid
content ranged from 0.3090.04% for leaping mullet to 8.2390.05% for European
barracuda. Mnari et al. (2007) also found differences in the total lipid content and
fatty acid proportions observed for the dorsal muscle, ventral muscle and liver
between wild and farmed gilthead sea bream. The species, season, geographical
origin, diet, age, and reproductive status of fish have a major impact on the nutrient
For personal use only.

levels in fish (Ackman 1989; Saito et al. 1999; Rasoarahona et al. 2005; Lunn and
Theobald 2006). However, nutrient levels vary between species and even within
species in both wild and farmed fish.
In the present study the highest EPA were obtained from golden grey mullet,
accounting for 46.06% of total PUFA, whereas the high proportion of DHA was
found within derbio (77.59%), east Atlantic red (76.04%), blotched picarel (74.95%),
and European barracuda (73.53% of total PUFA). Golden grey mullet and flathead
mullet gave lower DHA contents among fish species (accounting for 15.24% and
17.40%, respectively) (Table II).
The fatty acid compositions of marine water fish species ranged from 30.10% to
46.88% saturated fatty acids (SFA), from 11.83% to 38.17% monounsaturated fatty
acids (MUFA) and from 20.49% to 49.31% PUFA. The following fatty acids were
identified in most species: mystiric acid (C14:0, 0.72
8.09%), pentadecanoic acid
(15:0, 0.05
2.35%), palmitic acid (C16:0, 15.97
31.04%), palmitoleic acid (C16:1,
1.48
19.61%), heptadecanoic acid (C17:0, 0.
1-1.84%), cis-10-heptadecenoic acid
(C17:1, 0.17
2.01%), stearic acid (C18:0, 2.79
11.20%), oleic acid (C18:1n-9, 2.44

28.97%), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, 0.06
3.48%), arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, 0.12

10.72%), cis-5,8,11,14,17-EPA (C20:5n-3, 1.94
10%) and cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-DHA
(C22:6n-3, 3.31
31.03%). These results are in agreement with previous studies on
fatty acids of other species (Luzia et al. 2003; Ozogul and Ozogul 2007; Ozogul et al.
2007). It was also observed that the proportion of these fatty acids vary among the
species.
The highest concentration of SFA was obtained from the salema (Boops salpa)
(46.88%). Similar results were found by Soriguer et al. (1997) in the salema (Sarpa
salpa) (37.6%) and the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) (36.2%).
 Fat content and fatty acid compositions of marine water fish 473

DHA (C22:6 n-3) was the principal n-3 PUFA in most of the marine water fish
observed. For the group of n-6 PUFA, the primary fatty acid was linoleic acid (C18:2
n-6). The proportions of n-3 PUFA ranged from 12.66% for annular seabream to
36.54% for European hake, whereas the proportions of n-6 PUFA were between
1.24% for oceanic puffer and 12.76% for flathead mullet. The ideal n-6/n-3 ratio of
4.0 at a maximum is recommended by the UK Department of Health (HMSO UK
1994). Values higher than 4.0 have negative effects on health and may promote
cardiovascular diseases (Moreira et al. 2001). In this study, the ratio of n-6/n-3 was in
the range of 0.04 for oceanic puffer and 0.91 for flathead mullet.
The highest PUFA/SFA ratio was obtained from striped seabream (1.63) followed
by wide-eyed flounder (1.45) and sand sole (1.34), whereas the lowest values were
found for golden grey mullet (0.51), and African treadfish (0.51). These values were
higher in all fish species studied than 0.45, which is recommended as a minimum
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value of the PUFA/SFA ratio (HMSO UK 1994).

Palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) were the primary SFA, contributing
50.67
74.64% and 6.84
31.99% of the total SFA content of lipids for all species,
respectively. Palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) were the most
represented MUFA, accounting for 12.51
80.23% of total MUFA for most fish
species, respectively. The major fatty acids identified as PUFA were EPA (C20:5n-3),
DHA (C22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6), accounting for 8.18
54.86%,
15.24
77.59% and 0.0
39.79% of total PUFA, respectively.
During the past decades, MUFA have received increasing attention as being
potentially beneficial for the reduction of cardiovascular heart disease risk, after
For personal use only.

studies in the olive oil consumed by the populations of the Mediterranean region
(Keys et al. 1986). There is general agreement that the ratio of n-6:n-3 PUFA is too
high in the current western diet (James et al. 1992), and this ratio is between 15 and
16.7 (Simopoulos 2001). Nutritionists believe that the desirable n-6 to n-3 fatty acid
ratio should be 5. A very high n-6/n-3 ratio promotes many diseases, such as
cardiovascular disease (Hu et al. 2002). Now, it is commonly recommended to
increase the n-3 fatty acid content of the diet, mainly by consumption of fish at least
two or three times a week (2009300 g fish per week), which may provide
approximately 2009400 mg EPA and DHA a day. The recent Dietary Guidelines
for Americans (2005) recommend that most dietary fats should be derived from
sources of PUFA and MUFA, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.

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This paper was first published online on iFirst on 28 October 2008.

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