LIPID CONTENT AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION IN THE GREEN‐LIPPED MUSSEL PERNA VIRIDIS (L.)

The lipid content and fatty acid profile in soft tissue of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis, a widely distributed tropical and subtropical bivalve species, were investigated. The total and neutral lipid contents were 6.17 ± 0.71 and 2.71 ± 0.42 mg per 100 mg dw, respectively. The content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) was 24.38 ± 2.50 mg/g dw whereas eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) was present at 12.29 ± 2.12 mg/g dw. These two fatty acids were also at the top high percentage among all the fatty acids, with 38.06 ± 0.86% and 17.89 ± 1.24% (w/w) in total lipids and 34.64 ± 2.74% and 20.33 ± 1.05% (w/w) in neutral lipids, respectively. Therefore, green-lipped mussel is a rich source of DHA and EPA, the two n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial to human health and nutrition.