Effects of starvation on fatty acid composition of muscle and liver in grouper, Epinephelus coioides

Triplicate groups of 35 groupers weighing 62.30.6 g were starved in outdoor concrete tanks (4 m1.5m1m) for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks. Starvation for 4 weeks resulted in weight loss. Condition factor and hepatosomatic index decreased significantly. The moisture content of muscle increased and the protein content of muscle decreased significantly during starvation. The lipid content of muscle decreased during the first week and then remained constant. In liver, saturated fatty acids remained constant in the first three weeks of starvation and decreased significantly in the fourth week; monounsaturated fatty acids in liver remained constant in the first week and then decreased; whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids and high unsaturated fatty acids in liver increased significantly during starvation. Changes of fatty acids in muscle tissue were smaller compared to those in liver. The percentage of 14：0 decreased in muscle, and 20：5 increased with starvation time. Although DHA/EPA ratios decreased in muscle during starvation, DHA/EPA ratios in livers increased. The percentage of DHA+EPA in both muscle and livers increased with starvation time.