LIPID-CONTENT AND FATTY-ACID PROFILES OF SOME LESSER KNOWN NIGERIAN FOODS

The lipid content and fatty acid profiles of seven lesser known protei n foods in Nigeria, which include raffia palm and oil palm weevils (Rh ynchophorus sp.), shrimps (Palaemonetes sp.), periwinkles (Pachynelani a byronesis), snails (Vicapara quadrata), tropical oysters (Thais haem astrama) and crayfish (Palaemonetes varians); were determined. The tot al lipid content (% fresh weight, FW) ranged between 1.8 +/- 0.1 and 9 .8 +/- 0.1. The range of values for neutral lipids, total phospholipid s, and glycolipids (mg/g FW) was 10.1 +/- 0.7 to 53.6 +/- 1.5, 6.1 +/- 1.3 to 30.1 +/- 1.5, and 2.5 +/- 0.2 to 13.1 +/- 0.9, while those of total cholesterol and triacylglycerol content (mg/g neutral lipids) we re 1.4 +/- 0.1 to 7.1 +/- 0.2 and 8.3 +/- 1.1 to 47.0 +/- 1.5, respect ively. Crayfish and palm weevils contained higher amounts of total cho lesterol and phospholipids, compared with the rest of the foods. The f atty acid profiles showed variation among the different foods. Palm we evils, periwinkles, snails and tropical oysters were shown to contain substantial amounts of essential fatty acids, especially linolenic aci d (C18:3n3).