Fatty Acids Profile and Cholesterol Contents of Three Brazilian Brycon Freshwater Fishes

This study was carried out to determine the cholesterol and fatty acids in muscle tissue (filet) of three in natura species of Brazilian fishes Brycon cephalus (matrinxã), B. microlepis (piraputanga) and B. orbignyanus (piracanjuba). The non-native fishes were collected in farms (cultured in pond and cages) near Maringá. The native species were collected in Cuiabá–Manso rivers (B. microlepis), and Paraná river (B. orbignyanus) that belong to the Platina hydrographic basin. Differences were observed (P<0.05) for moisture (70.48–74.06%), ashes (1.05–1.32) and crude protein (18.84–20.03%). The total lipids and cholesterol contents were found in the range of 2.49–7.94% and 40.99–52.79 mg/100 g, respectively. The native species presented the smallest values when compared to the non-native. All species presented oleic acid, C18:1 n -9, as predominant, (38.34–48.77%), followed by palmitic acid, C16:0, (21.90–26.57%) and stearic acid, C18:0, (8.32–15.66%). The largest amount of total n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed in the wild B. microlepis (3.61%) and B. orbignyanus (3.06%).