Comparison of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid contents of wild and cultured Australian abalone.

The fatty acid contents of wild and cultured Australian adult blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, were analysed by gas liquid chromatography. Wild abalone contained significantly higher levels of total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) than cultured abalone (P<0.05). The predominant n-3 PUFA was docosapentaenoic acid in wild abalone, while in cultured abalone a high level of eicosapentaenoic acid was found. The concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was low in both wild and cultured abalone, and cultured abalone had a significantly higher percentage composition of this fatty acid than wild abalone (P<0.01). Significantly higher levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), 22:2n-6, 22:4n-6 and total n-6 PUFA were also found in wild abalone than in cultured animals (P<0.05). The ratio of n-3 PUFA to n-6 PUFA was the same in wild and cultured abalone. Manipulation of nutrient sources of cultured abalone may influence their lipid composition. Consumption of either wild or cultured abalone will contribute to dietary n-3 PUFA intake, with benefits to human health.