FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF FISH OIL CAPSULES

The proven nutritional essentiality of omega-3-fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as well as their positive effect w.r.t. prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases, have increased the significance of fish consumption as well as the intake of fish oil capsules from both marketing and medical points of view. Consequently, we analyzed 26 fish oil preparations via GC, w.r.t. fatty acid composition as well as EPA-and DHA-content respectively. The aim was to identify the origin and provenance of the respective fish oils and their possible blending will other edible fats and oils. The results of our investigations show that 23 samples could be considered as being composed of fish oils or fish oil concentrates. The remaining 3 were identified as being fish oil fatty acid ethylesters. An admixture with other edible oils could not be detected. Most of the fish oil capsules (= 20 products), as well as those specified as being salmon oil capsules, contained about 30% omega-3-fatty acids in a ratio between EPA:DHA of about 3:2. This ratio corresponds with those of a fish oil concentrate from Japan. Higher concentrations of omega-3-fatty acids of about 50% were found in the three capsules containing fish oil fatty acid ethylesters. The EPA:DHA ratio amounted in this case to about 3:2.