NUTRITIVE COMPOSITION AND LIPID QUALITY INDICES OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE FILLETED FISH

Sa？etak The importance of fish in a healthy diet is to be attributed to its low energy value, high content of proteins and essential minerals, and favourable lipid composition. Since modern consumers seek convenience, the demand for frozen fish as a nutritious food that can be quickly prepared either at home or in catering establishments is ever growing. In this study, a total of 45 fillets of three commercially important filleted frozen fish, including chum salmon (Oncorhyncus keta), saithe (Pollachius virens) and hake (Merluccius hubbsi), were analysed for their basic nutritive composition, fatty acid profile and lipid quality indices. The obtained results showed the highest average amount of fat in hake (4.20 ± 0.85 g/100 g), while chum salmon was the richest in proteins (18.74 ± 1.48 g/100 g). Hake was found to contain the highest amount of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and to have the most favourable thrombogenic index, while chum salmon had the most favourable atherogenic index and the most preferable ratio of hypocholesterolaemic over hypercholesterolaemic fatty acids. Our results could serve as the basis for widening the scope of recommendations for lean fish dietary intake