LAUSR

Staňkova B., Kremmyda L.S., Tvrzicka E., Žak A. (2013): Fatty acid composition of commercially available nutrition supplements. Czech J. Food Sci., 31: 241–248. We analysed the fatty acid (FA) composition of plant and fish oil supplements available in the Czech Republic. Total lipid FA composition was analysed by gas chromatography. A total of 62 plant and 50 fish oil supplements were analysed. Their FA composition ranged widely. Linoleic acid was a dominant FA in soya lecithin (45–60%), evening primrose (65–75%), amaranth (20–50%), pumpkin seed (45–55%), and borage oil supplements (40%). α-Linolenic acid ranged between 2% and 8% in soya lecithin and from 0.2% to 1% in the majority of the other plant oil supplements. Saw palmetto oil supplements were rich in saturated FA (40–90%). γ-Linolenic acid was found in evening primrose and borage oil supplements (10–20%). Sea buckthorn oil composition varied according to the part of the plant used. The majority of fish oil supplements contained 12–23% of eicosapentaenoic and 7–17% of docosahexaenoic acids. Oil supplements may be beneficial for patients with metabolic disorders because of their FA as well as antioxidant and phytosterol content.