ABSTRACT

 The oil content as well as fatty acid profile of three fish species consumed in Umuahia of Abia State was studied. The Folch (1957) method was employed in the extraction i and gas chromatography was used for fatty acid profile analysis. The results show that r .... of fish. However, the oil content of each of S. maculates and P. lineatus did not differ polyunsaturated fatty acids of more than 18 carbon atoms was found in all the fish samples studied. Based on the results obtained from this study, S. maculates and P. lineatus contain more of unsaturated fatty acids and should be nutritionally preferred over S. pichardus. ■ \ ix i-—the proportion of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in S. pichardus were 54.73%, 39.36% and 5.97%, respectively. S. maculates gave 38.74%, 53.63% and 7.62% for saturated, monounsat'urated and polyunsaturated fatty acids respectively, while that of p. lineatus gave 18.60%, 11.12% and 69.10% acids. S. pichardus gave higher amount of oil (38.67+0.9%), compared to the other two species of fish. However, the oil content of each of S. maculates and P. lineatus did not differ significantly from each other (25.33+0.9% and 38.00+1.6%, respectively). Finally, no polyunsaturated fatty acids of more than 18 carbon atoms was found in all the fish samples studied. Based on the results obtained from this study, S. maculates and P. lineatus contain more of unsaturated fatty acids and should be nutritionally preferred over S. pichardus.