Fitisýrur í spiki av grindahvali, Globicephala melas, í Føroyum: Fitisýrur sum føðsluevni og markørur. Samfelagsligur týdningur av grind

The history of subsistence whaling is long and unique in the Faroe Islands, mainly because relevant information about the catch and distribution of meat and blubber has been recorded for centuries. The long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, has been and still is an important food resource as well as an integrated and essential part of the Faroese society and culture. Although the blubber is sub-clinically polluted, it is still utilized for human consumption. Recently conducted investigations show that life expectancy for Faroese women (85.6 years) and men (82.4 years) is among the highest globally, and age-standardized incidence and prevalence of dementia is amid the lowest worldwide. Lipid extraction followed by gas chromatographic analysis showed that pilot whale blubber sampled in the summer season contains the following fatty acids:  16:0, 16:17 and 18:19 in relatively high proportions. Additionally, also smaller amounts of the long chained monounsaturated fatty acids, 20:19, 20:111, 22:111, which are beneficial and healthy for humans. Multivariate analysis revealed the potential use of the fatty acid profile as a natural marker for discrimination among pods of long-finned pilot whales in Faroese waters.