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Suitable ratio of dietary L-carnitine and α-ketoglutarate improves growth and health performance in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

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Abstract

L-carnitine (LC) and α-Ketoglutarate (AKG) are important growth promoters used in aquafeed. The study aimed to evaluate the incorporation of LC and AKG at different ratios in the diet of tilapia (initial weight 1.38 ± 0.03 g) in order to facilitate lipid utilization and protein synthesis. Fish were fed six isonitrogenous (~ 30 g/100 g CP) and isolipidic (~ 6 g/100 g CL) diets containing graded LC/AKG ratios of 0 (Control), 0.11, 0.42, 1.00, 2.33 and 9.00 in six treatments for 60 days. Fish fed with LC/AKG ratios 2.33 and 9.00 showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher percentage weight gain, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio. Feed conversion ratio in fish-fed diets with LC/AKG ratio 9.00 improved significantly (p < 0.05) than other treatments. The whole-body protein content of tilapia and digestive enzyme activity were significantly higher with higher weight gain. The body lipid content was significantly lower in the LC/AKG ratio 9.00. The liver antioxidant parameters and activity of the immune components were significantly higher in the LC/AKG ratio 9 group. The lower serum triglyceride and cholesterol level was also recorded in LC/AKG ratio 9 group. The histology of the intestine and liver showed increased villi area and decreased lipid droplets, respectively, in tilapia fed with higher LC/AKG ratios. It was concluded from the above results that the higher LC and lower AKG (LC/AKG ratio 9.00) combination attributed maximum lipid utilization and higher protein efficiency and thus better growth performance in tilapia. This was also reflected in activity of digestive enzymes, antioxidant enzymes and immune status in tilapia.

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Funding

This work was supported by the plan funded project of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies entitled “Development of sustainable aquafeed from wide spectrum raw materials and propagation of feed based aquaculture in Kerala”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquaculture, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, India, 682506

    Chiranjiv Pradhan, Uzma Soharwardi, Namitha Dileep, Nikhila Peter, Rachel Fernandez & Sweta Das

  2. Department of Fish Processing Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, India, 682506

    Amitha Kurian & Preetham Elumalai

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  1. Chiranjiv Pradhan
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Chiranjiv Pradhan, Uzma Soharwardi, Namitha Dileep, Nikhila Peter, Rachel Fernandez, Sweta Das, Amitha Kurian and Preetham Elumalai. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Chiranjiv Pradhan, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chiranjiv Pradhan.

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Pradhan, C., Soharwardi, U., Dileep, N. et al. Suitable ratio of dietary L-carnitine and α-ketoglutarate improves growth and health performance in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish Physiol Biochem 47, 1933–1950 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-021-01020-w

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