Determination of the contents of EPA and DHA and lipid constituents in main fresh water fishes in China.

In this study the molecular formula and structure of lipid constituents of silver carp and bighead carp in middle reaches of Yangtze River were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The position of double bounds was identified by the method of double bounds chemical localization. These carps are proved to contain eicosapantaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexenoic acid (DHA). The contents of EPA and DHA, which were determined by gas chromatography, in silver carp and bighead carp were approximately the same as in tuna and salmon. The contents of EPA and DHA in 100 g wet sample were 0.187 g, 0.229 g and 0.246 g, 0.325 g respectively, but the cholesterol contents in silver carp and bighead carp were much lower than in tuna and salmon.