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Updated: May 29, 2026

Fatty Acid 13C Isotopologue Profiling Provides Insight into Trophic Carbon Transfer and Lipid Metabolism of Invertebrate Consumers
Published on: April 17, 2018
Differences in fatty acid composition between aquatic and terrestrial insects used as food in human nutrition
Diego Fontaneto1, Mila Tommaseo-Ponzetta, Claudio Galli
1Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden. d.fontaneto@imperial.ac.uk
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.
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