Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of commercially important fish species from the Mediterranean, Mar Grande Sea.

The fatty acid (FA) profiles of 11 commercially important fish species from the sea of Southern Italy (Mar Grande Sea) were investigated. The results showed significant differences among the fatty acid profiles of the examined fish (p < 0.05). A relatively high proportion of n 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), of which more than 70% were accounted by docoesahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicoesapentaenoic acid (EPA) in salema, bogue, common two-banded seabream and sand smelt, and lower proportions of oleic acid (C18:1n 9) and palmitic acid (C16:0) also dominating. The percentages of EPA and DHA were between 5.03-8.61% and 9.85-17.39% of total lipid, respectively. The results showed that the fish examined are a good source of n 3 PUFAs, resulting in a very favourable n3 - n6 ratio, especially in salema, sand smelt, common two-banded seabream and picarel.