Aquaculture Reports (Jun 2024)
Dietary co-enzyme Q10 boosted the growth performance, antioxidative capacity, immune responses, and intestinal and hepatic histomorphology of grey mullet (Liza ramada)
Abstract
The aim of this experiment was to assess the potential benefits of supplementing coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the diet of Liza ramada, with a focus on growth promotion, enhanced feed utilization, improved digestive enzyme activity, bolstered antioxidant defenses, and overall health. Five diets were prepared, maintaining consistent levels of lipids (7%) and protein (32%). These diets featured equivalent raw materials but varied in their CoQ10 content (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg CoQ10/kg diet). Initial fish weight averaged 90.89±0.41 g, and each diet was administered to fish in triplicate tanks over a 60-day feeding period. Surprisingly, the diet with 80 mg/kg of CoQ10 showed the most substantial increases in weight gain (131.23±1.82 g), specific growth rate (1.40±0.01%/day), and a more favorable feed conversion ratio (1.73±0.01), outperforming the 60, 40, and 20 mg/kg CoQ10 diets. Additionally, 40 and 60 mg/kg CoQ10 diets demonstrated substantial improvements in digestive enzyme activity [protease (22.30±0.80 and 21.34±0.77, U/ mg), amylase (19.90±0.65 and 20.15±0.43, U/ mg), and lipase (27.04±0.80 and 27.41±0.87, U/ mg)], antioxidant markers [superoxide dismutase (14.01±0.27 and 14.44±0.62, U/ mg), catalase (1.19±0.04 and 1.20±0.04, U/ mg), and glutathione peroxidase (3.27±0.14 and 3.47±0.16, U/ mg)], and immune responses [lysozyme (302.12±3.18 and 294.25±7.64, U/ ml), bactericidal activity (5.00±0.04 and 6.03±0.14, U/ ml), respiratory burst using nitroblue tetrazolium (0.55±0.01 and 0.55±0.01, U/ ml), and alternative complement pathway activities (58.29±1.01 and 58.74±0.80, U/ ml)] in L. ramada (p 0.05). These findings underscore the potential of CoQ10 as a valuable dietary additive to enhance the growth and overall health of L. ramada, with recommended inclusion levels of CoQ10 falling between 60 and 80 mg/kg.
