Fatty acid composition and arachidonic acid intake of selected Saudi foods

Twenty-eight Saudi Arabian common foods were analyzed for their fatty acid contents by gas-liquid chromatography using capillary column. The predomina nt fatty acids were oleic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids. The polyun saturated to saturated fats ratio (P : S) as well as the n-3 : n-6 ratio we re generally not compatible with recommended values. Assessment of C20 : 4 (n-6) content in those foods showed a noticeable variation ranging from 9 m g/100 gm in beef sirloin to 256 mg/100 g in kannad fish. Eicosapentaenoic a cid (C20 : 5) n-3 content was highest in kannad (925 mg/100 g). Applying C2 0 : 4 (n-6) values detemined in this work to Saudi Balanced Sheet, the mean C20 : 4 (n-6) intake for a Saudian was estimated as - 115 mg/day.