Seasonal Differences in Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition of European Eels (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus 1758) from Orontes River, Turkiye

Abstract

Seasonal differences in the lipid contents and fatty acid composition of European Eels (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus 1758) caught from the Orontes River (Hatay, Turkey) were determined. High lipid levels, as well as ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids, are important factors in product quality. High-content lipid values of European eels from the Orontes River differed between seasons (p<0.05). The fatty acid compositions of eels ranged from 5.91-8.03 g/100 g in saturated fatty acids (SFA), 10.59-14.08 g/100 g in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and 2.19-3.52 g/100 g in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Those present in the highest proportions were palmitic acid (C16:0, 62-67.51%), palmitoleic acid (C16:1, 15.67-19.07%), stearic acid (C18:0, 11.04-17.2%), oleic acid (C18:1ω-9, 70.67-72.44%), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (C20:5ω-3, 12.77-22.83%), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6ω-3, 4.35-11.93%). Some fatty acids' composition differed significantly (p<0.05) between seasons. In addition, the ratio of ω-3/ω-6 PUFAs varied between 1.14 and 1.72, reaching the highest value in autumn. The highest EPA+DHA contents were recorded during summer. In conclusion, analysis parameters show that commercially important European eels from the Orontes River are quite good sources of high-quality lipids and fatty acids.