The aim of this work was to determine the centesimal composition and fatty acids profile of freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium amazonicum) for determination of its nutrient potential. Six lots (each one with 100 g) containing whole prawns with individual mass ranging from 0.9 to 1.2 g were triturated and stored for posterior chemical analysis. The average values for moisture, ash, CP and total lipids were as follows: 70.3, 1.5, 24.8, and 1.5%, respectively. It was detected 36 varieties of fatty acids, and the most abundant was the palmitic -16:0 acid with 18.2%. The major omega-3 fatty acids were: eicosapentaenoic-20:5n-3, dihomo-alpha-linolenic-20:3n-3, docosahexaenoic-22:6n-3 and alpha-linolenic-18:3n-3 with frequencies of 13.9, 9.5, 6.8, and 4.2%, respectively. The total frequencies of fatty acids were of 36.9% for omega-3 and 46.8% for polyunsaturated fatty acids. The omega-6/omega-3 (n-6/n-3) ratio and polyunsatured to satured (PUFA/SFA) ratio were of 0.3 and 1.6, respectively. All parameters indicated a good nutritional value of the M.amazonicum meat.
centesimal composition; fatty acids; Macrobrachium amazonicum; shrimp
