Differences in Fatty Acid Composition between Aquatic and Terrestrial Insects Used as Food in Human Nutrition

Abstract

Edible insects may be a source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). The aim of this article is to test for differences in aquatic and terrestrial insects used in human nutrition. We implemented linear models and discovered that differences in the proportion of LC-PUFA between aquatic and terrestrial insects do exist, with terrestrial insects being significantly richer in particular omega-6 fatty acids. In conclusion, any kind of insect may provide valuable sources of LC-PUFA. Because terrestrial insects are more abundant and easier to collect, they can be considered a better source of LC-PUFA than aquatic ones.

Keywords:

• entomophagy
• human brain evolution
• insects
• non-conventional food
• non-domesticated human food
• nutrition
• long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Carla Cerri and Carlo Cantoia from Fontaneto d'Agogna, Italy, for describing the way they collected dragonflies in northern Italy when they were young; Jun Mitsuhashi who kindly provided larvae of Trichoptera (S. griseipennis) and Megaloptera (P. grandis); and Devi Dipali who kindly provided larvae of Lepidoptera (A. assama and P. ricini) to be analyzed.