POSITIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF FATTY-ACIDS IN TRIACYLGLYCEROLS OF SEAL BLUBBER OIL

The positional distribution of long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatt y acids namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA ), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the triacylglycerol (TAG) molecul es of seal blubber oil was determined and compared with that of commer cially available menhaden oil via stereospecific analysis. In seal blu bber oil, EPA, DPA and DHA occurred mainly in the sn-1 and sn-3 positi ons of the TAG molecules. The amounts were EPA, 8.36 and 11.2; DPA, 3. 99 and 8.21; and DHA, 10.5 and 17.9%, respectively. In menhaden oil, D PA and DHA occurred mainly in the sn-2 position of the TAG at 3.11 and 17.2%, respectively. However, EPA was equally distributed in the sn-2 and sn-3 positions and was present only in minute amounts in the sn-1 position.