The Heavy Metal, Fatty Acid, and Proximate Composition of Wild Brown Trout (Salmo trutta Sp.)

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the proximate composition, fatty acid profiles, microbiology, and heavy metal concentrations of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta macrostigma) that were obtained from the Munzur River in Tunceli, Turkey. According to the findings of the study, wild brown trout had significantly higher concentrations of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids, respectively. C18:1 ω-9, which is oleic acid, followed by C16:0, which is palmitic acid, C18:3 π-3, which is linolenic acid, and C16:1 ω-7, which is palmitoleic acid, were discovered to be the primary fatty acids, in that particular order. The fatty acids that were found to be the most prevalent in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were C22:6 ω-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, also known as DHA), C18:3 ω-3c (cis-linolenic acid), C18:2 ω-6c (linoleic acid), and C20:5 ω-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, also known as EPA). The results of this investigation showed that all of the values obtained were significantly lower than the values that are defined in the Turkish Food Codex for heavy metals. It is also possible to consider Munzur trout to be safe from a microbiological standpoint. In conclusion, following the examination of the nutritional quality results in terms of fatty acid composition, proximate, and heavy metal data, it can be concluded that wild brown trout that inhabit the Munzur River can be considered a reliable and essential source of protein and ω-3 fatty acids. Keywords: Salmo trutta macrostigma, fatty acid, heavy metal, microbiology