Jacqueline Arzel

Total replacement of fish oil by soybean or linseed oil with a return to fish oil in turbot (Psetta maxima): 1. Growth performance, flesh fatty acid profile, and lipid metabolism

The aim of the study was to investigate the replacement of fish oil by vegetable oils and the effects of a washout with a return to fish oil on growth performances and lipid metabolism. Three experimental fish meal-based isonitrogenous (crude protein content: 57.5%) and isolipidic (crude lipid content: 16.5%) diets were formulated containing either 9% of added fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), or linseed oil (LO). Each diet was distributed to triplicate groups of 25 marketable size turbot (initial body weight of 579 g) grown in seawater at water temperature of 17 °C. Fish were fed once a day to visual satiety. At the end of the growth trial, which lasted 13 weeks, all groups of turbot were fed with FO diet for 8 weeks. The growth of turbot was high, but the incorporation of vegetable oils in the diets resulted in a slight decrease in growth as compared to those fed with fish oil-based diet. Feed and protein efficiency and whole body composition were not affected by dietary lipid sources. Total lipid content was low in the muscle of turbot (below 2%); ventral muscle being fatter than dorsal muscle. Liver and muscle fatty acid (FA) composition reflected dietary FA composition. Liver and muscle of fish fed with SO diet were rich in 18:2n-6, whereas those of fish fed with LO diet were rich in 18:3n-3. Liver and muscle of fish fed with SO and LO diets had lower levels of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in comparison to those of fish fed with FO diet. In turbot, hepatic lipogenic enzyme activities were low and not influenced by dietary lipid source. At the end of the second period, after transfer to FO-based diets, muscle FA composition of fish fed previously with SO and LO diets were still different to those of fish fed with FO diet. The values of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3, respectively, were lower than the values found at the end of the growth period, but higher than those of fish fed with FO diet. An increase of FA levels, characteristic of fish oil, was observed in the liver and muscle of fish previously fed with vegetable oils. Data obtained show that replacement of fish oil by vegetable oils is possible with negligible impact on growth performance of turbot, that dietary lipids are an effective vector to influence the nutritional quality of finished product, and that a duration of 8 weeks is not sufficient to bring the FA profile of turbot of this size back to that of fish fed with fish oil over the whole period.

Regulation of hepatic lipogenesis by dietary protein/energy in juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Abstract A growth trial was conducted with groups of European seabass having an initial weight of 6 g to study the lipogenic action of dietary protein and non-protein energy supplies. Six experimental diets were formulated to contain one of two crude protein levels (43 and 52%) with digestible protein (DP) to digestible energy (DE) ratios ranging from 19 to 26 mg/kJ. At the end of the growth trial (12 weeks), the activities of liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD, EC 1.1.1.49), malic enzyme (ME, EC 1.1.1.40), ATP citrate lyase (ACL, EC 4.1.3.8), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACoAC, EC 6.4.1.2) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS, EC 2.3.1.38) were measured. Digestibility of main dietary components was also determined over a three-week period. At each protein level, an increase in dietary DE led to improved growth performance, protein efficiency, daily N deposition and to a reduction of N loss. Best results were achieved at 40% DP and a DP/DE ratio of 19–20 mg/kJ. G6PD, ME and ACoAC were found to be the key regulatory enzymes in the lipogenic pathway, with G6PD being the main NADPH-generating enzyme. Activities of G6PD, ME, ACL and FAS were reduced with increasing fat intake. Activities of G6PD, ME and ACL were increased with increasing starch intake. ACoAC activity was negatively correlated with starch intake and positively with fat intake.

Dietary lipid level, hepatic lipogenesis and flesh quality in turbot (Psetta maxima)

A study was undertaken with marketable size turbot to evaluate the effects of dietary fat levels on chemical composition, lipogenesis and flesh quality. Four experimental diets containing graded levels of fish oil in order to obtain 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of crude fat were fed to triplicate groups of turbot (initial body weight of 660 g) for 12 weeks in full strength seawater at temperature of 17°C. Nutrient digestibility was not influenced by dietary fat levels. The best growth performance was observed in fish fed 10% and 15% dietary fat. High dietary lipid levels led to higher fat deposition in whole fish, although lipid level in muscle remained low (1.1% in dorsal muscle and 1.7% in ventral muscle irrespective of diet). Significant subcutaneous fat accumulation was detected in turbot. No protein sparing effect by lipid was observed in turbot fed high dietary fat. Hepatic lipogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PD; malic enzyme, ME and acetyl CoA carboxylase) did not show any clear change in activity in response to dietary fat content. With regards to quality parameters, there were no differences in gutted and fillet yields among treatments. Sensory analyses of dorsal fillets indicated only a difference in exudation (corresponding to loss of water) and whiteness within treatments in accordance with instrumental colour analyses and on ventral fillets, only a difference of sweet flavour was observed. No differences in hardness were detected by either instrumental texture analysis or sensory analysis. In conclusion, although high dietary lipid levels affected growth and whole body composition of turbot adversely they induced very few alterations in flesh quality.

Partial or total replacement of fish meal by corn gluten meal in diet for turbot (Psetta maxima)

The effect of corn gluten meal (CGM) as a partial or total replacement of fish meal was studied in turbot (Psetta maxima). Five experimental diets containing a gradient of CGM were fed to triplicate groups of turbot (initial body weight of 65 g) over 9 weeks at 17°C. Turbot fed a diet containing 20% of CGM had comparable growth performances as these fed a fishmeal based diet. Total replacement of fish meal adversely affected growth. Digestibility of nutrients and energy of the diets decreased with the increase in levels of dietary corn gluten meal. Supplementation of arginine and lysine in diets containing CGM induced an improvement of the availability of these two amino acids. The incorporation of CGM in diets significantly affected plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations while no effect was observed on plasma levels of thyroid hormones. These results suggest that protein from CGM can replace one third of fish meal protein in the diets for turbot.

Fatty acid profile of fish following a change in dietary fatty acid source: model of fatty acid composition with a dilution hypothesis

Abstract The fatty acid (FA) content of fish is generally said to reflect fatty acid composition of the diet. In fact, incorporation of FA into tissues is modulated by various metabolic factors, and final composition will depend upon the initial FA content, cumulative intake of dietary fatty acids, growth rate and duration. Analysis of time course of changes in FA composition should be easier with animals having different initial FA profiles, which are subsequently fed a diet with the same FA composition. Data from two studies, one with brown trout and another with turbot were used. Fish were first fed with diets containing one of three different oils (soybean oil (SO), linseed oil (LO) and fish oil (FO)), and subsequently fed the same fish oil-based diet (washout period). If we suppose a model fish having the same initial composition as those fed vegetable oil and which incorporate fatty acid in the same way as the control fish always fed fish oil, we may compute a model of dilution of initial fatty acid content with increasing growth and absolute fat deposition. Experimental data can be compared with a reference fatty acid profile given by this model for the same fatty acid increase. Application of the model to experimental data shows that while muscle neutral lipid (NL) FAs roughly follow this dilution model, those of muscle polar lipids (PL) undergo much faster changes than model values based on increase of total polar lipid quantities. Among observed differences between the model and experimental values, DHA is of particular interest as this fatty acid displays lower change rates (significant in turbot neutral lipids) than expected in contrast to other fatty acids.

Effect of dietary lipid on growth performance and body composition of brown trout (Salmo trutta) reared in seawater

Abstract An experiment was carried out with 12 groups of a fast-growing strain of brown trout reared in seawater. Each treatment was fed to triplicate groups of 158 fish of 1.6 kg average body weight reared in 60-m3 floating cages. Four experimental diets corresponding to two levels (21 versus 29%) and two sources of added lipid (corn, i.e. vegetable, versus cod liver, i.e. marine) were tested. Crude protein content was similar (about 52%) in all diets. All fish were fed the same amount of calculated digestible energy. The level of fat had a slight but significant effect on growth rate and feed conversion; the higher dietary lipid level led to a faster daily growth index (+4.8%) and better feed conversion (−12%). Protein utilization, estimated by both protein efficiency ratio and productive protein value, was also improved in the high-lipid compared to low-lipid treatments. The same factor also significantly influenced fat and muscle water content which were higher and lower, respectively, in the high-lipid compared to low-lipid treatments. The source of added lipid did not influence growth rate, feed conversion, or protein efficiency. Lipid source had no effect on body composition except in the case of liver which contained more lipid and less water in the fish fed cod liver oil. The source of lipid had very pronounced effects on the fatty acid (FA) profile of muscle and liver lipids but the variations mainly concerned saturated (in liver only), monounsaturated and 18:2n−6 FAs (in both tissues). On the other hand, n−3 polyunsaturated FAs were significantly but only slightly modified by the source of lipid, corresponding for both tissues to that found in other salmonids. The level of 20:4n−6 remained constant. The elongation product of 18:2n−6, namely 20:2n−6, was incorporated in muscle and liver lipids while the Δ6 desaturation product, 20:3n−6, was only observed in liver.

Fat deposition and flesh quality in seawater reared, triploid brown trout (Salmo trutta) as affected by dietary fat levels and starvation

Three isoproteic (crude protein content: 56%) diets with different fat levels (11%, 20%, and 26%) were fed to triplicate groups of triploid brown trout (initial average body weight of 1.5 kg), reared in seawater. At the end of 3 months of feeding, fish fed the high-fat (HF) diet were split into two groups: a triplicate group of fish received the low-fat diet and another triplicate group was kept unfed for a further 2-month period. Fish initially fed the low-fat diet during the first period were continued to be fed the same diet. Fish fed the medium-fat (MF) diet during period 1 were eliminated for period 2. At the end of each period, comparative whole body analyses, sensory and instrumental (texture and colour) analyses were made on fresh and smoked fillets. During the first period, increasing dietary fat level had no significant effect on growth or feed utilisation, but increased whole body (14.6% to 17.9%, on wet weight basis) and muscle (8.3% to 11.0%) fat content. During the second period, the fish fed the low-fat diet had similar growth performance irrespective of previous nutritional history, whereas starvation led to significant loss of weight and fillet yield. Whole body fat content did not differ between groups (around 15%) at the end of period 2. In fish initially fed the HF diet, both starvation and feeding a low-fat diet led to a reduction in muscle lipid content. Sensory analyses revealed few differences between treatments, in terms of visual colour aspects, for both cooked and smoked fillets at the end of period 1. A positive relationship between instrumental colour analyses (L*, a*, b* values) and dietary fat levels was observed, but no difference was observed for instrumental texture measurements. At the end of period 2, a significant increase in parameters of colour was observed in unfed fish. Although both feed withdrawal and feeding a low-fat diet 2 months before slaughtering led to a reduction in fat content, starvation had the disadvantage of leading to significant weight loss.

Total replacement of fish oil by soybean or linseed oil with a return to fish oil in Turbot (Psetta maxima): 2. Flesh quality properties

The aim of this study was to evaluate (1) the effects of replacement of fish oil by vegetable oils on flesh quality and (2) the effects of a washout with a return to fish oil on flesh quality of turbot. In a first period of 3 months, three isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing 9% of added marine fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO) or linseed oil (LO) were fed to triplicate groups of 25 marketable size turbot (initial body weight: 579±1 g) grown in sea water at the temperature of 17 °C. At the end of the first period, all groups of turbot were fed with the diet containing fish oil (diet FO) for a further period of 2 months. The gutted and fillet yields were not affected by the incorporation of vegetable oils. However, soybean or linseed oils significantly affected the organoleptic quality of flesh particularly odour, colour and texture. A more pronounced potatoes odour and a lower fat texture were observed in dorsal fillet of turbot fed soybean oil diet. During the washout period, the differences observed between treatments in first period on sensory attributes disappeared. This study showed that the changes in organoleptic properties occurring due to the intake of vegetable oils can be reduced with a return to a fish-oil-based diet.

The protein requirement of brown trout (Salmo trutta) fry

Abstract The protein requirement of brown trout of INRA DC 87 strain was studied by feeding diets containing graded levels of protein. These diets were formulated to be isoenergetic on a digestible energy basis and contained protein from 38 to 65%. The fish were 1.15 g triploid fry reared in stream water. Triplicates of 300 fish per replicate were used for each diet. The fish were fed for 52 days a ration which was modified every 2 weeks according to biomass, but the actual overall ration corresponded to excess feeding. Proximate analyses were performed on whole body and epaxial muscle at the end of the trial. No significant growth improvement was obtained over 53% protein, while best feed efficiency was apparently observed with 57% protein. The lower the dietary protein, the better the nitrogen utilization (estimated by protein efficiency ratio or productive protein value). Body protein content was not related to dietary protein but low protein levels resulted in higher body lipid content. Essential free amino acid contents in the muscle were plotted against the dietary protein levels and the values of the protein level corresponding to the slope changes were compared with the estimations of the dietary requirement. One free amino acid (threonine) showed a slope changing point corresponding to the values of the requirement determined with specific growth rate, while two other amino acids (arginine and valine) led to values lower than the estimated requirement. Estimations of the absolute requirements in g protein per fish per day or g protein per 100 g fish per day were not accurate because of poor control of the actual feed intake. The optimal protein level of brown trout determined under these conditions seems to exceed that of the salmonids of the genus Oncorhynchus , but it could be similar to that of Salmo salar .

Relationship between ration size and dietary protein level varying at the expense of carbohydrate and lipid in triploid brown trout fry, Salmo trutta

Abstract A feeding trial was conducted with brown trout fry (initial body weight: 2 g) in order to estimate the best combination of feeding level and protein content. The factorial design consisted of feeding four dietary protein levels (47, 53, 58 and 63%) at four ration sizes (70, 85, 100 and 115% of a previous empirical reference). Fish were weighed at 21 and 42 days and at the end of the experiment that lasted 57 days. Two replicates were used for each protein×ration level combination. Diets had approximately the same energy level (about 18.5 MJ DE) and contained the same protein source with varying carbohydrate: fat ratio. Protein efficiency, estimated by productive protein value, was improved by low dietary protein level and feed restriction. Body composition was slightly but significantly affected by diet composition, with body lipid content decreasing with high dietary protein. The lowest ration (70%), even with the highest protein content, as well as the lowest protein content (47%), even with the highest feeding level, did not allow maximal growth which was nevertheless achieved with several protein content×ration size combinations. Combinations which yielded equivalent growth rates did not give the same feed efficiency, this criterion being best with 58 or 63% protein diets fed at 85% of the previous reference. Protein requirement was found to depend on feeding level; absolute requirement was estimated to be between 10 and 13 g balanced protein/kg body mass/day, while calculated absolute energy requirement was between 330 and 450 kJ DE/kg body mass/day. In these conditions, specific growth rate was of 2.7%. When compared to other fishes growing at the same rate, the absolute requirement of brown trout for protein appears to be rather low.