EPA and DHA quantification in two species of freshwater fish from Central Amazonia

Abstract

The levels of the fatty acids EPA and DHA were determined for two species of fish (Hypophthalmus sp. and Cichla sp.), in the muscular tissue and in the orbital cavity, in two different seasonal periods in the Brazilian Amazonian area. Relatively high amounts (oil mg/g) for freshwater fish were found for DHA in the two species. Hypophthalmus sp. presented a higher concentration of EPA (20 ± 3 mg/g) and DHA (18 ± 3 mg/g) in the wet seasonal period in the muscular tissue, without a significant difference between the two acids. Higher concentrations of DHA were detected in the flood period in the muscular tissue (55 ± 9 mg/g) of Cichla sp. but with reduced concentrations of EPA (5 ± 1 mg/g).