The fatty acid composition of cod liver oil

The fatty acid composition has been determined using group separation by thin layer partition chromatography in conjunction with gas liquid chromatography. Values are given for 41 acids as percentages of the sum varying between 0.1 % and 20.6 %. These results have been compared with the results from nine similar studies reported during the last five years. Mean values have been calculated for the eleven major fatty acids, and coefficients of variation are given. A fairly uniform fatty acid composition for cod liver oil emerged from these data. The dominating acid is oleic acid C18:1 (25 %), followed by the five acids C16:0 (11 %), C16:1 (9 %), C20:1 (11 %), C20:5 (9 %) and C22:6 (10 %). A comparison of laboratory extracted oils and commercial cod liver oil has also been reported. A short historical review is given, and the results of two older different methods of analysis are compared with the present results