Predicting the positional distribution of docosahexaenoic and docosapentaenoic acids in aquatic animal triglycerides.

The positional distribution of 22ratio6 and 22ratio5 in aquatic animal triglycerides can be predicted by simple proportionality equations of the typey=kx. The mole % 22ratio6 at the 1, 2, or 3 position (y) is obtained by multiplying the proportionality constant for that position (k (1),k (2), ork (3)) times the mole % 22ratio6 in the total triglycerides (x). For fish and invertebrate triglycerides,k (1)=0.28,k (2)=2.06, andk (3)=0.66. For marine mammal blubber triglycerides,k (1)=0.94,k (2)=0.22, andk (3)=1.84. The same equations apply to both 22ratio6 and 22ratio5.