This study evaluated the fatty acid composition and the nutritional profile of Brycon cephalus and Brycon microlepis, fish species from the central Amazon basin, by different methods of quantification. The methods applied were: area normalization (MAN), internal standard (MIS), alternative theoretical (MAT) and alternative experimental (MAE). Significant differences were observed between the methods applied and the species studied. MAN supplied poor information about fatty acids composition and diet formulation, presenting only fatty acid profiles. MIS, MAT and MAE supplied fatty acids composition information on a mass basis. MAT and MAE overestimated results, whereas MIS presented the most accurate results. B. cephalus and B. microlepis showed high contents of approximately 65 mg g-1 of n-3 fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) content totaled, 104.37 mg 100 g-1 and 117.89 mg 100 g-1 for B. cephalus and B. microlepis, respectively. The nutritional profile of both fish species showed favorable indices for nutritional quality of the lipid fraction, indicating that both Brycon species are healthy dietary choices.

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ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the centesimal composition, fatty acid profile and the nutritional quality index of four seafood species: pink shrimp (Penaeus brasiliensis), Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), mussel (Perna perna) and octopus (Octopus vulgaris), that were collected in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The nutritional quality of the lipid fraction was evaluated by the index of thrombogenicity (IT), index of atherogenicity (IA) and the hypocholesterolaemic fatty acids-to-hypercholesterolaemic fatty acids ratio (h/H). All the studied species presented a high protein content (12.88−21.61%) and a low amount of total lipid (0.26−4.07%). The pink shrimp had the most protein and octopus contained the least total lipid. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were detected in all samples, presenting the highest values in mussel (204.62 and 123.57 mg 100 g -1 , respectively). The analysed species presented low IT and IA values and an h/H ratio around 2 or higher, and therefore, they are considered potentially healthy foods. Moreover, the shrimp species can be classified as a source of omega-3s, while the mussels can be categorised as having a high content in these polyunsaturated fatty acids.Keywords: polyunsaturated fatty acids; omega-3; omega-6; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).Composição centesimal, perfil de ácidos graxos e índices de qualidade nutricional de quatro espécies de frutos do mar da região sul do Brasil RESUMO. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a composição centesimal, perfil de ácidos graxos e índices de qualidade nutricional de quatro espécies: camarão rosa (Penaeus brasiliensis), camarão branco do pacífico (Litopenaeus vannamei), mexilhão (Perna perna) e polvo (Octopus vulgaris), coletados em Santa Catarina, Brasil. A qualidade nutricional da fração lipídica foi determinada pelos índices de trombogenicidade (IT), aterogenicidade (IA) e a relação entre ácidos graxos hipocolesterolêmicos (h): hipercolesterolêmico (H) h/H. Os resultados demonstraram que as espécies estudadas apresentam alto teor de proteína (12,88 a 21,61%) e baixo teor de lipídios (0,26 a 4,07%), sendo o camarão rosa o alimento mais proteico e o polvo com menor teor de lipídios totais. Em relação aos ácidos graxos, foram detectados os ácidos eicosapentaenoico (EPA) e docosahexaenóico (DHA), em todas as amostras, sendo o mexilhão Perna perna, a espécie que apresentou maiores valores (204,62 e 123,57 mg 100 g -1 , respectivamente). Desta forma, as espécies analisadas demostraram-se como alimentos potencialmente saudáveis, pelos baixos valores de IA e IT e valores próximos ou superior a 2 do hH. As espécies de camarão podem ser classificadas como fonte de ômega-3, enquanto que o mexilhão pode ser classificado como alto teor desse constituinte.