A EVALUATION OF FATTY ACID PROFILE OF FISH OIL SELECTED FROM SOME FISH SPECIES AT HADEJIA FISH MARKET

Abstract

The study investigated the nutritional properties of oils extracted from three freshwater fish species (Mormyrus rume, Bagrus bayad and Heterotis niloticus) collected from Hadejia Fresh Fish Market, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Fish oils were extracted using the Soxhlet method following AOAC procedures. The extracted oils were analyzed for fatty acid composition using Gas chromatography following standard experimental procedure and data were statistically evaluated through one-way ANOVA at a significance level of p<0.05.Results revealed significant interspecific variation (p<0.05) in oil.The fatty acid profiles demonstrated significant differences among species,with Heterotis niloticus showing higher levels of palmitic, oleic, cis-vaccenic, and n-hexadecanoic acids, whereas Bagrus bayad contained the highest levels of squalene, eicosane, and other hydrocarbons. Cholesterol was detected only in Momyrus rume. The observed differences suggest species-specific lipid metabolism and ecological adaptation influencing fatty acid composition. Oils from Heterotis niloticus and Bagrus bayad exhibited favorable 9-octadeceoic acid, palmitoleic and octadecanoic acids profiles, highlighting their nutritional potential for human consumption and industrial application