Proton nuclear magnetic resonance rapid and structure‐specific determination ofω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish lipids

Based on proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) spectroscopy, a rapid and structure‐specific method for the determination of ω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fish lipids is presented. The different chemical shift observed for the methyl resonance of ω‐3 PUFAs (δ=0.95 ppm) with respect to the methyl resonance of all other fatty acids (δ=0.86 ppm) has provided the possibility of proposing a new and rapid method for the determination of ω‐3 PUFA content. Twenty‐four fish lipid samples (raw, cooked and canned albacore tuna) produced results that showed good agreement between1H‐NMR analysis and gas chromatographic determination. Raw and cooked samples showed significantly higher levels of ω‐3 PUFA than canned tuna.