Fatty Acid Profile, Lipid and Cholesterol Content, and Nutritional Lipid Quality of Seven Fish Species from the Persian Gulf

A total of seven fish species from the Persian Gulf, belonging to three pelagic, benthopelagic, and demersal habitat groups were evaluated for the fatty acid composition, lipid and cholesterol contents, and nutritional lipid quality characteristics of their edible muscles during winter and summer. The values of lipid (g/100 g) and cholesterol (mg/100 g) varied from 0.66 to 2.74 and 27.80 to 44.91, respectively. Lipid and cholesterol contents of most fish species were significantly higher in summer than in winter. The highest contents of lipid and cholesterol belonged to pelagic and benthopelagic fish species, respectively. All fish species had much higher ∑ n-3 PUFAs than ∑ n-6 PUFAs. A higher level of PUFAs and MUFAs was observed during the winter, while a higher content of SFAs was detected in the summer. Low values of index of atherogenicity (< 0.8) and index of thrombogenicity (< 0.5) indicated that all fish species, especially demersal and benthopelagic fish had favorable nutritional lipid quality properties. The results indicated that season and habitat can significantly influence the lipid and cholesterol content, and fatty acid profile of fish muscles.