The Docosahexaenoic Acid Content in the Lipid of Albacore Thunnus alalunga Caught in Two Separate Localities

Abstract

The present paper describes the fatty acid composition of the lipids of albacore Thunnus alalunga caught in two separate localities in the temperate zone of the northern Pacific Ocean. The total lipids of various organs (dorsal ordinary muscle, ventral ordinary muscle, dark muscle, liver, heart, pyloric cecum, and orbital region around the eye) and stomach contents were extracted, and the fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) was the major unsaturated fatty acid in the lipid of all specimens examined. The mean DHA content accounted for more than 25% (mean ± s.d.: 26.5 ± 5.8%) of the total fatty acids in the lipids of all organs. This was different from the lipid profile of other fish species, of which the fatty acid composition generally is more variable. The DHA contents of lipids of albacore were higher than those of other fish species, but similar to those of other tuna species (genera Thunnus and Euthynnus).