Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Fish oils

Fish oils are probably the most complex of all naturally occurring fats. Lipids are mainly present in fish oil as triacylglycerols (TAGs), fatty acid esters of glycerol. Glycerol carbon atoms are numbered according to a stereochemical system, positions sn-1 and sn-3 being the outers, position sn-2 the central one.

Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids; EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are marketed worldwide as valuable dietary supplements with numerous benefits for children and adults. Some research suggests that these fatty acids can improve skin health, as well as specific skin conditions, such as eczema and acne.

Fish meat is a source of iodine, phosphorus and zinc and the nutritional value of dietary fiber is high. Fish meat has 66 - 84% water, 15 - 24% protein, 0.1 - 22% fat, 0.8 -2% mineral substance and 1 - 3% glycogen and fish oil has 20% saturated fatty acid and 80% unsaturated fatty acids.

Fish oils differ in their fatty acid composition depending on the species of origin and seasonal variations. Fish oils obtained from species reared in cold waters have higher contents of these fatty acids.

Fish oils, produced by a cooking process, are pressed and purified in several steps. The proteins are denatured and removed by pressing. Thereafter, the oil is separated. The oil phase, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, is refined in several steps: neutralization, followed by bleaching, degumming or winterization, and deodorization.
Fish oils

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