Fatty Acid Composition of Chub Mackerel (Scomber japonicus) Fed a Diet Fortified with CLA and Ascidian (Halocynthia roretzi) Tunic Extracts

To examine the functional properties of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and ascidian tunic extracts in fish, we compared mackerel fed ascidian tunic extract and CLA (CA25) and a control group. The daily growth index of CA25 was 1.92 compared to 1.86 in the control group. The viscerosomatic index of CA25 was 36.7% lower than that of the control group. After 8 weeks, the protein content decreased from 19.7 to 17.5% in the CA25 group. The ascidian tunic extract content in the viscera was much higher than in muscle (0.13 vs. 0.03 mg/100 g) after 8 weeks. At the start, the n-3 fatty acid content of the experimental fish was 25.2% in muscle and 23.7% in viscera. The CLA content in muscle in the CA25 group was 2.1% after 4 weeks and 2.3% after 8 weeks. By contrast, the CLA content in viscera did not change after 8 weeks.