Lipid and fatty acid composition of brackishwater- and freshwater-reared milkfish (Chanos chanos Forskal)

Abstract

Lipid and fatty acid composition of the various sections of brackishwater- and freshwater-reared milkfish were determined by chromatographic methods. Lipids consisted mainly of the neutral type, which in turn was composed primarily of triglycerides and cholesterol esters. Palmitic and stearic acids were the predominant saturated fatty acids in both types of fish, although the brackishwaterreared milkfish contained more palmitic acid and the freshwater-reared milkfish more stearic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids of C₁₆ and C₁₈ were more characteristic of the freshwater-reared milkfish lipid, while those of C₂₀ and C₂₂ were the major acids of the brackishwater-reared milkfish lipid. Saturation and unsaturation in the fatty acid composition characterized both types of fish although the brackishwater-reared milkfish lipids had fatty acids of higher unsaturations (C₂₀ and C₂₂).