Fatty acid composition in the wild boars muscles from different regions of Poland

Meat and meat products are one of the most relevant food groups in the human diet due to high content of protein. Meat from wild animals is considered a delicacy and commands a high price compared to other sorts of meat. Due to the characteristic sensory properties (taste), lower fat and cholesterol contents and higher share of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) a growing interest of this meat is noted⁽¹,²⁾. The aim of the study was to compare fatty acid profile in wild boars muscles depending on the feeding grounds. The research material consisted of 37 samples of wild boars (Sus scrofa) muscles from three different regions in Poland: Warmia and Mazury, Podlasie and Silesia. The fat was extracted from the muscle samples by the Folch method. The fatty acid (FA) composition was determined after the acids were trans-methylated according to the Peisker method. Chromatographic separation was performed using an Agilent Technologies 7890A gas chromatograph with a flame-ionization detector (FID). The average share of sum of saturated fatty acids (ΣSFA) in wild boars fat from Warmia and Mazury, Podlasie and Silesia regions were 41.5%, 39.6% and 38.8%, respectively. In wild boars fat from Silesia the highest share of sum of monounsaturated fatty acids (ΣMUFA) was found (46.9%), while in wild boars fat from Warmia and Mazury, Podlasie it accounted for: 44.4% and 39.9%, respectively. A similar share of ΣPUFA (approx. 14%) was determined in wild boars fat from Warmia and Mazury, and Silesia region, whereas in those from Podlasie region ΣPUFA accounted for approx. 12%. Meat fat from wild boars is a valuable source of fatty acids with a beneficial impact on human health. However, the fatty acids profile depends of the region, which indicated the predominant influence of the animal's feed on FA composition of meat fat.