Seasonal variations in total fatty acid composition of muscles and eye sockets of tucunare (Cichla sp.) from the Brazilian Amazon area

Seasonal variations in total fatty acid compositions of tucunare, Cichla sp. in the Janauaca Lake of the Amazon basin were determined by GC. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were found to be at higher concentrations than monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in two seasonal periods. Major fatty acids were palmitic (16:0, 48.5-51.6% of total SFA), oleic (18:1 omega 9, 43.9-50.2% of total MUFA), docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6 omega 3, 13.5-27.9% of total PUFA) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 omega 6. 16.0-19.6% of total PUFA). Polyunsaturated fatty acids were the most abundant in muscle during the flood period, and more especially fatty acids 22:6 omega 3 (10%) and 20:4 omega 6 (7%). There were no significant variations amongst total lipid SFA, MUFA, and PUFA from eye sockets. The omega 6 fatty acid percentages were always higher than the omega 3 fatty acid percentages in tucunare, with omega 6/omega 3 ratios varying between 1.02 and 1.6 in the flood and drought periods. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.117227227