M. NAGABHUSHAN REDDY AND MD. BASHA MOHIDEEN
Abstract
Fish and other marine life are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids known as omega-3 or n-3 fatty acids. Fish with higher levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower levels of serum cholesterol has important role in reducing coronary heart diseases. Marine fish, mackerel showed significantly higher levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids - alphalinolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and lower levels of both serum cholesterol and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids -arachidonic acid, linoleic acid when compared to brackish water fish, mullet and freshwater fish catla, rohu and mrigal. The levels of different types of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish from different aquatic habitats were in the order: mrigal