FATTY-ACID CONTENT AND COMPOSITION OF 5 FISH SPECIES FROM THE PERSIAN GULF

1. The fatty acid compositions of muscle total, polar and neutral lipids in five commonly eaten fish species in Kuwait were determined. 2. The total amount of fatty acids varied from 0.3 to 1.9% of tissue wet wt. 3. Fatty acid compositions and their total amounts were very similar in polar lipids of all species studied. The amount of neutral lipids varied more. 4. n-3 Fatty acids, mainly docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids, were the dominant unsaturated fatty acids (15.4-43.4%), but n-6 fatty acids, mainly arachidonic, linoleic and docosapentaenoic acids, were also well represented (7.3-21.8%).