QUALITY EVALUATION OF DIETARY LIPID OF CHANNEL CATFISH (ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS) FROM BULGARIA

Fish lipids are important components of diet due to their signifi cance as energy, essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins sources. No data is available on fatty acid (FA) composition and fat soluble vitamins content of freshwater channel catfi sh from Bulgarian fi sh market. The objectives of the present work were to investigate the total lipid content, FA profi le, lipid quality indices (atherogenic, thrombogenic), fat soluble vitamins (A, E and D3) as well as relative daily intake of vitamins of Channel catfi sh (Ictalurus punctatus). The potential nutritional and medicinal value of FA composition and vitamins content to consumers were evaluated. The FA composition was analyzed by GC–MS. Fat soluble vitamins were analyzed simultaneously using RP–HPLC. The FA distribution of catfi sh is: SFA>MUFA>PUFA. The n3/n6 and PUFA/SFA ratios were greater than the recommended by FAO/WHO. A portion of 100 g contained 0.245 g of EPA+DHA n-3 PUFA. Catfi sh tissue presented signifi - cant amounts of vitamin E (1374.5 ± 158.1 μg.100 g–1 ww), followed by vitamin A (36.2 ± 0.7 μg.100 g–1 ww) and D3 (17.7 ± 0.7 μg.100 g–1 ww). This species is excellent source of fat soluble vitamins, especially for vitamin D3 – one survey provides more than 300% of the RDI established in Bulgaria. This study provides specifi c nutritional information with respect to the consumption of channel catfi sh for nutrient balance as foodstuff. Since fi sh tissue is a valuable source of essential nutrients, a detailed analysis for evaluation the nutrient composition and content on fi sh lipids is needed.