Intestinal absorption of astaxanthin, plasma astaxanthin concentration, body weight, and metabolic rate as determinants of flesh pigmentation in salmonid fish

doi:10.1016/0044-8486(90)90255-L

Aquaculture

Volume 90, Issues 3–4, November 1990, Pages 313-322

https://doi.org/10.1016/0044-8486(90)90255-L Get rights and content

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine whether poor intestinal absorption of astaxanthin or some other metabolic factor is primarily responsible for pigmentation failure in white chinook salmon and small juvenile fish of other salmonid species. None of the fish studied failed to absorb astaxanthin from a single oral dose of the pigment. Intensity of flesh pigmentation in coho ranging in weight from 30–400 g, and fed a diet supplemented with astaxanthin, was significantly correlated with body weight. There was no correlation, however, between flesh colour and plasma astaxanthin concentration or between body weight and plasma astaxanthin concentration. Dietary triiodothyronine reduced both flesh pigmentation and plasma astaxanthin. It is concluded that poor flesh pigmentation results from rapid metabolism of absorbed pigment to colourless derivatives rather than from failure of the fish to absorb pigment.

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Cited by (49)

Effect of dietary astaxanthin on growth, body color, biochemical parameters and transcriptome profiling of juvenile blood parrotfish (Vieja melanurus ♀ × Amphilophus citrinellus ♂)
2022, Aquaculture Reports
Citation Excerpt :
The apoa1b and apodb genes related to lipid metabolism were downregulated in the skin of the Wk6ASTA+ and Wk12ASTA+ groups, this reduction may be due to a decrease in accumulation of fatty acids and cholesterols into high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Ando et al. (1986) and March et al. (1990) have described the significant role of HDL in carrying fatty acids and astaxanthin in Atlantic salmon. Because of the hydrophobic attribute of carotenoids, they are reported to be linked with fatty acids and transported via the intestine and blood circulation (Vo et al., 2021).
To investigate the effects of dietary astaxanthin on fish growth and body color, blood parrotfish juveniles were assigned to three groups: control (CL), fed a diet without astaxanthin supplementation for 12 weeks; coloration (ASTA+), fed a diet containing 0.45 g/kg astaxanthin for 12 weeks; decoloration (ASTA-) fed the diet supplemented with astaxanthin for the first six weeks and then the control diet for the other six. Our results showed that the specific growth rate showed no significant difference between ASTA+ and CL at weeks 3 and 6 and among ASTA+ , ASTA- and CL at weeks 9 and 12. The ASTA+ group showed higher skin redness at weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12 and higher yellowness at weeks 6, 9 and 12 than CL, and than ASTA- at week 12. The ASTA+ group had higher concentrations of astaxanthin, HDL-C and LDL-C than the CL at weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12 and than ASTA- group at weeks 9 and 12. By compared ASTA+ and ASTA- with CL, a total of 4250 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected. Pathways, e.g., PPRA signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, and ABC transporters, of DEGs involved in carotenoid deposition were enriched. DEGs involved in the absorption and transport (e.g., upregulated lpl and pltp, and downregulated stard7), metabolism (e.g., upregulated adh1 and dhrs7cb, and downregulated cyp7b1, dhrs11, and si:ch211-113j14.1), and deposition of carotenoids (e.g., downregulated apoa1b and apodb) might be associated with skin coloration. Overall, the results of this study could help to understand the biochemical and molecular mechanism of body coloration under the presence and absence of dietary astaxanthin in blood parrotfish.
Effects of natural astaxanthin from microalgae and chemically synthetic astaxanthin supplementation on two different varieties of the ridgetail white prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda)
2021, Algal Research
Citation Excerpt :
The difference may be caused by the difference in body scale (0.6 ± 0.1 g vs 2.3 ± 0.3 g) and growth stage (juvenile vs adult). It was reported that the deposition of carotenoids was lower at the young stage in salmonids [28,29], and even the flesh pigmentation only occurs after reaching certain minimum size or body weight [28,30]. Different from the uniform effects of improved pigmentation of Ax to aquatic animals, the effect of dietary Ax on growth performance of aquatic animals varies at different developmental stages, or under different environment for different species [2,5].
This study evaluated the effects of natural astaxanthin (Ax) from microalgae (Haematococcus pluvialis) and synthetic Ax supplementation on growth performances, pigmentation, Ax content and antioxidant capacity in two varieties of the ridgetail white prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda). Experimental animals were fed with nine experimental diets for 56 days. It showed that dietary Ax did not influence the growth performances of the wild-typed prawn (p > 0.05), while 400 mg kg⁻¹ Ax supplementation significantly improved the survival rate and total weight gain of the new variety (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the new variety showed improved growth performances in comparison with the wild-typed prawn when fed with 200 or 400 mg kg⁻¹ Ax. Ax supplementation significantly enhanced the body pigmentation, including redness and yellowness of the new variety and the wild-typed prawn, but the improvement efficiency of natural Ax was higher than that of synthetic Ax. Ax supplementation also significantly increased the contents of free Ax and total Ax in abdominal muscles of the two varieties, and a maximum increase of free and total Ax content by 16.2 and 17.8 folds in the new variety was gained when they were fed with 400 mg kg⁻¹ natural Ax. The redness was positively correlated with the content of free Ax and total Ax. Moreover, Ax supplementation significantly improved the antioxidant capacity by increasing the activity of total antioxidant capacity, decreasing the activity of catalase, total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malonadehyde content in both the new variety and the wild-typed prawn (p < 0.05). Based on the data obtained from the present study, the optimal level of natural Ax supplementation in the new variety was 100 mg kg⁻¹ or above, and around 200 mg kg⁻¹ for synthetic Ax. Natural Ax should be an alternative choice in improving performances of the new variety of E. carinicauda.
Effects of dietary cholesterol on astaxanthin transport in plasma of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
2013, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Citation Excerpt :
The biochemical mechanisms involved in carotenoid absorption in fish are considered similar to that of mammals and involve the following steps: 1) disruption of the food matrix and molecular linkages; 2) uptake in lipid droplets; 3) formation and uptake in micelles; 4) uptake in enterocytes and; 5) incorporation for transport into chylomicrons (van het Hof et al., 2000). Uptake of Ax and Cx from the intestine is slow, approximately 18–24 h (March et al., 1990). The blood clearance rate of these carotenoids depends on the transport and cellular uptake of carotenoids from blood lipoproteins (Guillou et al., 1992).
The effect of dietary cholesterol on astaxanthin (Ax) absorption and transport in the plasma of Atlantic salmon was investigated. Under controlled conditions, three experimental diets, non-pigmented diet (NPD), NPD with 40 mg Ax kg^− 1, and NPD with 40 mg Ax kg^− 1 and 2% cholesterol, were fed to juvenile salmon reared in sea water. After 12 weeks, blood was collected and plasma separated for analysis of plasma Ax and cholesterol content. In addition, plasma samples from each group of fish were fractionated into lipoproteins using a sucrose density gradient and ultracentrifugation. The apolipoprotein components of VLDL, LDL and HDL from each sample fraction were separated using SDS-PAGE. The addition of 2% cholesterol to the Ax-containing diet significantly increased the concentration of Ax and cholesterol in fish plasma. The protein-rich fraction was found to be the major carrier of Ax in salmon plasma. Cholesterol supplementation significantly increased Ax in plasma and VLDL as well as increasing plasma cholesterol. The VLDL fraction showed the most significant change in fish fed diet supplemented with cholesterol resulting in higher levels of Ax in this lipoprotein. The results clearly show that dietary cholesterol had a significant effect on the Ax transport process in the blood.
Advances in aquaculture feeds and feeding: Salmonids
2009, New Technologies in Aquaculture: Improving Production Efficiency, Quality and Environmental Management
Salmonid aquaculture is highly mechanised, thus depending on efficient feed utilisation, rapid growth, and short production cycles to maximise output of extensive facilities. This chapter addresses recent history, advances, practices, and future trends in feed ingredient choice, formulation, feed processing and manufacture, and feeding to obtain these goals. Chosen strategies and solutions are largely based on in-depth research on salmonid metabolism and nutritional physiology, which is used to reassess nutritional requirements, evaluate feed ingredients, and elucidate how physical properties of feeds, dietary nutrients or natural bioactive components, feed additives or contaminants, and malnutrition affects fish performance, health, and nutrient composition.
Effect of alternate distribution of astaxanthin on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) muscle pigmentation
2009, Aquaculture
The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the use of astaxanthin alternate feeding on rainbow trout pigmentation in term of astaxanthin serum concentration, muscle colour and astaxanthin muscle retention. Four hundred and fifty rainbow trout were fed the same basal diet supplemented with two different astaxanthin levels, 100, and 200 mg astaxanthin kg^− 1 of diet, hereafter designated as AX100 and AX200, respectively. An additional astaxanthin-free (AX0) diet was used. The experimental treatments were as follows: (1) REF = AX100 diet at each meal each day, served as reference; (2) SD1 = AX100 diet at each meal the first day followed by AX0 diet at each meal every second day; (3) SD2 = AX100 diet and AX0 diet in alternate meals each day; (4) R2 = AX200 diet and AX0 diet in alternate meals each day; (5) R4 = AX200 diet at the first meal the first day followed by AX0 diet at the second meal the first day and at each meal every second day. Fish were fed the experimental feeding schedule for 42 days.
At the end of the experiment there were no significant differences among fish fed the different feeding schedules in term of final mean weight, specific growth rate and feed efficiency ratio. SD2 fish group displayed the highest (P < 0.05) astaxanthin serum concentration and the R4 fish group the lowest one. REF and R2 fish groups showed similar astaxanthin serum concentrations. Muscle chroma showed the most pronounced effect. It increased significantly for all fish groups during the experiment. At the end of the experiment REF and R2 fish groups displayed higher values than SD1 and R4 fish groups. Muscle astaxanthin concentrations increased significantly during the experiment whatever the astaxanthin feeding schedule. At the end of the experiment, the highest muscle astaxanthin concentration was recorded for R2 fish group while the lowest was noted for R4 fish group. Except for SD1 and R4 fish groups, muscle astaxanthin retention decreased significantly during the experiment. At the end of the experiment, muscle astaxanthin retention coefficients for SD2 fish group were significantly higher than those for REF fish group. The results reported here provide further evidence of the potential applicability of alternate astaxanthin feeding on rainbow trout pigmentation. Extending the optimisation of the SD2 treatment will therefore be subject for future studies. Its application could result in cost saving in the fish farming industry.
Colouration and flesh quality in farmed salmon and trout
2008, Improving Farmed Fish Quality and Safety
The prominent coloration of seafood with respect to reddish to orange/yellow hues is due to deposition of carotenoid pigments found in nature and their accumulation via the food chain into the tissues, organs, and flesh of many species. Of particular note is the characteristic coloration of the flesh of salmon and trout, the integument of marine fish such as red sea bream and the exoskeleton and muscular epithelium of lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and other crustacean carapaces as well as in the hepatopancreas and gonadal tissues of molluscan organisms such as sea urchins and starfishes. The use of carotenoids as pigmenting feed additives in aquaculture has received much attention in the media with considerable emphasis on their necessity and safety, with statements suggesting that synthetic pigments, colorants or indeed among the misinformed that dyes are employed to achieve the desired color in mainly salmon and trout. It is the requirements of the consumer and retailers that are driving the agenda and generating the need for more information in this area with attention to coloration. The question of fish coloration would always be a controversial and emotive topic since it is easily visualized and can be measured. The aquafeed industry and fish nutritionists must be responsive and embrace innovative products and concepts to meet these expectations with confidence and be aware of the wider practical and ethical considerations.

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Aquaculture

Abstract

References (19)

Absorption and fate of labelled canthaxanthin 15,15′-³H₂ in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Rich.)

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues

J. Biol. Chem.

Estimates of phenotypic and genetic parameters for carcass traits in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout

Aquaculture

Application of thyroid and steroid hormones as anabolic agents in fish culture

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

Carotenoid pigmentation in two strains of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and their crosses

Aquaculture

Carotenoid deposition in pen-reared salmonids fed diets containing oil extracts of red crab (Pleuroncodes planipes)

Aquaculture

Pigmentation of salmonids: interactions of astaxanthin and canthaxanthin on pigment deposition in rainbow trout

Aquaculture

Pigmentation of salmonids — genetic variation in carotenoid deposition in rainbow trout

Aquaculture

Genetic variation of flesh colour in canthaxanthin-fed rainbow trout

Genet. Sel. Evol.

Cited by (49)

Effect of dietary astaxanthin on growth, body color, biochemical parameters and transcriptome profiling of juvenile blood parrotfish (Vieja melanurus ♀ × Amphilophus citrinellus ♂)

Effects of natural astaxanthin from microalgae and chemically synthetic astaxanthin supplementation on two different varieties of the ridgetail white prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda)

Effects of dietary cholesterol on astaxanthin transport in plasma of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Advances in aquaculture feeds and feeding: Salmonids

Effect of alternate distribution of astaxanthin on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) muscle pigmentation

Colouration and flesh quality in farmed salmon and trout