Seasonal variations of ω۳ polyunsaturated fatty acids in muscle of Capoeta caelestis

In this study, seasonal variations of fatty acid amounts in muscle tissues of Capoeta caelestis were investigated. We have found that the ω۳ contents of C. caelestis in spring, summer, autumn and winter were ۱۷.۴۳%, ۱۵.۲۹%, ۱۷.۵۴%, ۱۳.۶۳% in female and ۱۶.۹۶%, ۱۹.۲۵%, ۱۸.۶۶%, ۱۴.۷۶% in male, respectively. The amounts of ω۳ polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher than those of ω۶ polyunsaturated fatty acids. The eicosapentaenoic acid amounts were always higher than the docosahexaenoic acid amounts in C. caelestis. Female C. caelestis presented a higher amount of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid than males. The amounts of docosahexaenoic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid varied from ۰.۴۴% to ۰.۵۶% in females and from ۰.۴۵% to ۰.۵۹% in males in different seasons. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid in female muscles changed from ۱۰.۳۴% to۱۲.۵۱% and in male muscles from ۱۱.۱۶% to ۱۵.۴۱%, respectively. It was seen that the ω۳ polyunsaturated fatty acid amounts of C. caelestis reached the highest level in summer and autumn in both sexes. Therefore, it can be concluded that the nutritional value of this fish is better in the both seasons with respect to the ω۳ polyunsaturated fatty acid amounts.

Keywords:

Capoeta caelestis , ω۳ fatty acid , Sex , Season