CAROTENOID CONTENT IN THE BODY OF WHITEFISH (COREGONUS LAVARETUS LAVARETUS (L.)) FROM LAKE ŁEBSKO (NORTHERN POLAND)
Małgorzata Woźniak*, Andrzej Martyniak*, Jacek Kozłowski*,
Bogdan Wziątek*, Marek Sobocki**Department of Fish Biology and Culture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
** Słowiński National Park, Smołdzino, Poland
ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sex on the content of b-carotene, lutein, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and total carotenoids in the skin, muscles, and livers of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus lavaretus (L.)). Fish samples for assays were collected from Lake Łebsko. There is a whitefish conservation program in Lake Łebsko. The results show that males are more carotenoid rich in comparison to females. The total carotenoids ranged from 0.39 mg g-1 wet weight (ww) (skin of females) to 1.55 mg g-1 ww (livers of males). The highest carotenoid levels were in whitefish livers (1.36-1.55 mg g-1 ww), and the lowest were in its skin (0.39-0.41 mg g-1 ww). Astaxanthin was the dominant carotenoid in whitefish muscles and livers. The highest levels of b-carotene were recorded in the skin of both whitefish males and females.
Key words: WHITEFISH (COREGONUS LAVARETUS LAVARETUS), CAROTENOIDS, LAKE ŁEBSKO
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Małgorzata Woźniak, Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski, Katedra Biologii i Hodowli Ryb, ul. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Tel.+48 (89) 5233762; e-mail: mawoz@uwm.edu.pl