Effect of Two Natural Carotenoid Sources in Diets for Gilthead Seabream,Sparus aurata,on Growth and Skin Coloration

To improve the unnatural fade-pigmented skin of cultivated gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, (if shown) the present study was initiated. The effects of either red bell-pepper (Capsicum annum) meal or carrot (Daucus carota) meal as a natural dietary carotenoid source, on growth and skin coloration of gilthead seabream growers were investigated. A basal/control diet (D1/CTR) was firstly formulated to contain 48% crude protein and 14% lipids, with no added-carotenoids. With this basal diet, two other test diets were similarly prepared and supplemented each with about 40mg/Kg total carotenoids from either red-pepper meal (D2) or carrot meal (D3). In a feeding trial, fish (mean IW, 94.86±0.3g) were fed one of the three diets (D1, D2, D3), in triplicates for each treatment, for 6 weeks in light-blue background PVC tanks supplied with natural seawater flow. Total carotenoids content of skin was determined spectrophotometerically at initiation and end of the experiment. Neither growth nor feed utilization were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the red pepper-added diet (D2) as compared to CTR diet. However, the carrot fed fish recorded the lowest and significant (P<0.05) weight gain (g/fish) and specific growth rate (SGR, %/d) among dietary treatments. There were no considerable (P>0.05) differences in major nutrients composition between fish fed the experimental diets. Total carotenoids content was significantly (P<0.05) increased, in the skin-opercle area, of fish fed the red pepper diet (D2) as compared to initial fish and to either carrot fed fish or CTR fish. Results have suggested that gilthead seabream can effectively bio-absorb natural carotenoid pigments (mainly capsansin and capsorbin) in red-pepper but not in carrot (mainly β-and α-carotene).     

Effect of microalgal biomass concentration and temperature on ornamental goldfish (Carassius auratus) skin pigmentation

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different carotenoid sources/concentrations and temperature on goldfish (Carassius auratus) skin pigmentation. In the first trial (trial A), the effect of carotenoid source (natural – microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and synthetic – Carophyll Pink) and carotenoid concentration (45, 80 and 120 mg pigment kg^?1 diet) was tested. Six homogeneous duplicate groups of juvenile goldfish (7.4 g) were fed, for 5 weeks, one of the diets containing 45, 80 or 120 mg of total pigments of C. vulgaris biomass or synthetic astaxanthin per kg of diet (Cv45, Cv80, Cv120, Ax45, Ax80, Ax120), respectively. In trial B, the effect of water temperature on skin pigmentation was studied. Five homogeneous duplicate groups of 25 goldfish each (5.2 g) were fed diet Ax45 over 9 weeks, to test the following temperatures: 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 °C. At the end of both trials, samples of skin along the dorsal fin were withdrawn for subsequent analysis of total carotenoid content, intensity of colour, red and yellow hue and visual observation. The best carotenoid concentrations were achieved with astaxanthin diets. There was a tendency to an overall improvement of colour parameters (L and b) in fish fed diets with high levels of C. vulgaris. The results indicated that the best temperature range to maximize skin pigmentation was 26–30 °C.     

Utilization of carotenoids from various sources by rainbow trout: muscle colour,carotenoid digestibility and retention

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with a mean (sd) weight of 120 (2) g were fed diets supplemented with astaxanthin extracted from the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma (OY1 = 50 mg carotenoids kg^–1 feed, OY2 = 100 mg carotenoids kg^–1 feed), astaxanthin (AX = 100 mg astaxanthin kg^–1 feed) and canthaxanthin (CX = 100 mg canthaxanthin kg^–1 feed) for 4 weeks. Muscle analyses at the end of the experiment indicated a significantly higher carotenoid concentration in the AX group, while CX and OY1 groups were similar in spite of the differences in dietary concentration. The measure of total muscle colour difference (E^* _ab) between initial samples and 4 week ones was higher for the AX fish group but showed no significant difference between OY1, OY2, and CX. The hue and the reflectance ratio (R₆₅₀:R₅₁₀) of fish muscle increased in proportion to carotenoid intake. Digestibility (ADC) of yeast astaxanthin in OY1 and OY2 groups was significantly higher than that in the AX group. Canthaxanthin ADC was about one sixth of that of astaxanthin (AX group). Carotenoid retention in the muscle, expressed as a percentage of carotenoid intake, was higher for the AX group than that recorded for OY1 and OY2. According to ADC, carotenoid retention showed a marked lower value for the CX group. Muscle retentions were similar for astaxanthins from both sources.     

Effects of Various Dietary Carotenoid Pigments on Fillet Appearance and Pigment Absorption in Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

A study was conducted to evaluate effects of various carotenoids on skin and fillet coloration and fillet carotenoid concentration in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. For 12 wk, juvenile catfish were fed one of six experimental diets containing no supplemental carotenoid or 100 mg/kg of one of following carotenoid additions: β‐carotene (BCA), lutein (LUT), zeaxanthin (ZEA), canthaxanthin (CAN), and astaxanthin (AST). Visual yellow color intensity score was highest for fish fed LUT, followed by ZEA, AST, and CAN, and lowest for fish fed basal and BCA diets. Skin and tissue Commission Internationale de I’Eclairage yellowness value was the highest in fish fed LUT, followed by fish fed ZEA, AST, and CAN, and lowest for fish fed basal and BCA diets. Fish accumulated the supplemental carotenoids in muscle tissues, but concentrations of different carotenoids in the tissue varied greatly. Approximately 30% of the LUT added was converted to echineone; no conversion was observed among other supplemental carotenoids. Results from the present study indicate that channel catfish can accumulate yellow pigments LUT and ZEA and red or pink pigments CAN and AST in the flesh, resulting in yellow coloration. The yellow pigment BCA does not appear to deposit in skin or flesh at levels sufficient to alter the coloration.     

Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass

Koi carp and goldfish value increases with intensity of skin colour, which is an important quality criterion. Fish cannot fully synthesize their own carotenoid colourings and these must therefore be included in their diet. Two trials were undertaken to investigate skin colour enhancement in ornamental species (i.e. three chromatic varieties of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), namely Kawari (red), Showa (black and red) and Bekko (black and white) and goldfish (Carassius auratus)) by feeding a dietary carotenoid supplement of freshwater microalgal biomass [Chlorella vulgaris, Haematococcus pluvialis, and also the cyanobacterium Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina)], using a diet containing synthetic astaxanthin and a control diet with no colouring added for comparison. In the first trial, five homogeneous duplicate groups of 25 juvenile koi carp (C. carpio) (initial mean body weight 24.6 ± 0.7 g) were fed, for 10 weeks, one of the four diets containing 80 mg colouring/kg diet. In the second trial, this procedure was repeated for five homogeneous duplicate groups of 25 goldfish (C. auratus) (initial mean body weight of 0.9 ± 0.1 g). Initial and final samples of skin along the dorsal fin were withdrawn, from five fish per group, for subsequent analysis of total carotenoid content (spectrophotometric analysis), and red hue (colorimetric analysis, CIE (1976) L* a* b* colour system). Growth and feed efficiency were not significantly different between groups administered by the various dietary treatments. In both trials, dietary carotenoid supplementation increased total skin carotenoid content. The more efficient colouring for koi carps was found to be C. vulgaris biomass, providing both maximum total carotenoid deposition and red hue for the three chromatic koi carp varieties studied, and particularly for the kawari variety. For goldfish the best colouring obtained, as ascertained by total carotenoid content, was also achieved using C. vulgaris biomass, and red hue was maximum when using H. pluvialis biomass.     

Reproductive performance of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L., 1758) fed two combined levels of carotenoids from paprika oleoresin and essential fatty acids

Despite carotenoids and essential fatty acids seem to play important roles in fish reproduction, no studies have yet been conducted to determine the effect of dietary carotenoids on gilthead seabream broodstock performance and their relation as antioxidants with dietary n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) levels. In addition, the high cost of synthetic sources of carotenoids is leading to the search for new natural carotenoid sources such as paprika oleoresin. Four experimental diets containing two combined levels of carotenoids from paprika oleoresin (40 and 60 mg kg^?1) and n‐3 HUFA (25 and 40 g kg^?1) were respectively fed to triplicate groups of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) broodfish. Elevation of n‐3 HUFA dietary levels from 25 to 40 g kg^?1 significantly improved gilthead seabream broodstock performance in terms of egg viability, hatching rates and fecundity. Besides, it markedly increased egg contents in HUFAs which play important energetic and structural roles and improve embryo development. Both arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n‐3) egg contents were more readily affected by dietary n‐3 HUFA than docosahexaenoic acid. HUFA levels did not caused any negative effect suggesting an optimized content of antioxidants in broodstock diets. Increase in dietary carotenoids from 40 to 60 mg kg^?1 increased carotenoid contents in eggs and significantly improved egg fertilization rates suggesting an important sperm cell’s protective role by reducing the risk of lipid peroxidation which is detrimental for sperm motility. The increased inclusion of dietary paprika oleoresin enhanced egg carotenoid deposition and improved fish reproductive performance, denoting the high nutritional value of this product as a source of carotenoids for broodstock of this species.     

Use of Chlorella vulgaris as a carotenoid source for rainbow trout: effect of dietary lipid content on pigmentation, digestibility and retention in the muscle tissue

Apparent digestibility, deposition and retention of carotenoids in the muscle of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were investigated comparing the feeding of pigments from Chlorella vulgaris against commercially available pigments at two different total lipid contents (15% and 20% lipid). Algal biomass (ALG) was included in rainbow trout diets and muscle pigmentation was compared to that obtained in trout fed diets containing a 5:3 mixture of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin (MIX) (reflecting the relative concentrations of these carotenoids in the dry alga) or those fed a diet containing astaxanthin only (AST). Apparent digestibilities of pigments and nutrients were determined by the indirect method, using Cr2 O3 as indicator, and the colour intensity and pigment concentration were assessed in the muscle, using the Roche colour card for salmonids and UV-vis spectrophotometry. After 6 weeks feeding, colour intensity was similar for the various pigment sources, achieving levels 12 to 13, yet significantly higher in fish fed the diet with the higher lipid content ( 20%) (p<0.05). Pigment concentration in the muscle was also higher in the fish fed the high-fat diet. Muscle pigment concentrations were similar for fish fed diets ALG and MIX, and over 1.5 times higher than for diet AST (p<0.05) after 6 weeks. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, lipid, total energy and specific carotenoid concentrations were also measured. Increased dietary fat content was shown to increase the deposition and the retention of carotenoids in muscle, and the difference increased with time (deposition increase of 10–20% at week 3 and 30–40% at week 6 and retention increase of 10–15% at week 3 and 30% at week 6). Pigment digestibility also apparently increases (10–20%) under those conditions despite the fact that no significant effects in terms of apparent digestibility increase were found for dry matter, protein, lipids or energy. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Dietary esterified astaxanthin effects on color, carotenoid concentrations, and compositions of clown anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris, skin

This study examined the effects of dietary esterified astaxanthin concentration on coloration, accumulation of carotenoids, and the composition of carotenoids over time in the skin of Amphiprion ocellaris. Juveniles of 30 days-post-hatch were fed 40, 60, 80, or 160 mg esterified astaxanthin per kg diet (mg kg^?1) for 90 days. Skin coloration was analyzed using the hue, saturation, and luminosity model. Increased astaxanthin concentrations and duration on diet lead to improvements in skin color, that is, lower hues (~27–29 to ~14–17; redder fish), higher saturation (~77 to ~87 %), and lower luminosity (~43 to ~35 %). Fish fed 80 and 160 mg kg^?1 astaxanthin feed showed significant coloration improvements over fish fed lower astaxanthin feeds. Increasing both dietary astaxanthin concentration and time on the feed resulted in significant increases in total skin carotenoid concentration (0.033–0.099 μg mm^?2). Furthermore, there was a significant linear relationship between hue and total skin carotenoid concentration. Compositionally, free astaxanthin and 4-hydroxyzeaxanthin were the major skin carotenoids. 4-hydroxyzeaxanthin was previously unreported for A. ocellaris. Carotenoid composition was affected by duration on diet. Fraction 4-hydroxyzeaxanthin increased by ~15 %, while free astaxanthin decreased equivalently. The transition from 4-hydroxyzeaxanthin to free astaxanthin appears to follow a reductive pathway. Results suggest that managing coloration in the production of A. ocellaris juveniles requires manipulation of both dietary astaxanthin concentration and period of exposure to astaxanthin containing diet. In order to achieve more orange–red-colored fish, feeding 80–160 mg kg^?1 esterified astaxanthin for an extended duration is recommended.     

Natural bixin as a potential carotenoid for enhancing pigmentation and colour in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Discovering natural carotenoids for colour enhancement and health benefits of fish is important to develop new feed formulations. We have purified natural bixin from achiote seeds and evaluated the effect of colour enhancing and pigmentation in goldfish. Varying levels of bixin‐based diets were prepared with 420 g kg^?1 of crude protein and 120 g kg^?1 of lipid content. Our results clearly showed that bixin (0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.60 g kg^?1) based diets significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the skin and fin colour at 30 and 60 days compared to diet without bixin. Interestingly, diet which contains 0.20 g kg^?1 bixin and commercial feed (with astaxanthin) had similar effect on carotenoid deposition in skin. Moreover, total carotenoid deposition in fin was higher than in skin of all bixin‐containing diets. However, 0.60 g kg^?1 bixin‐containing diet had lower specific growth rate (1.01 ± 0.01) and higher feed conversion ratio (2.05 ± 0.19) compared to the control group. The present results demonstrate that achiote bixin can be successfully used as an alternative natural carotenoid source against synthetic astaxanthin in fish feed. Our data indicate that 0.20 g kg^?1 is a suitable dietary level of bixin to ensure strong pigmentation, acceptable growth and feed utilization in goldfish.     

Effect of Astaxanthin from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous on the Pigmentation of Goldfish, Carassius auratus

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the addition of astaxanthin from red yeast, Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, in the diets of goldfish, Carassius auratus. The first was designed to investigate the distribution of pigments in different tissues of goldfish and the effect of astaxanthin in the diet. The carotenoid concentration of tissues was not homogenous. The content of pigments in fish caudal fin was the highest followed by those of scales and head. Flesh had the least carotenoid deposition. Fish fed the diet containing 60 mg/kg astaxanthin had increased concentration of pigment in its head (22.6%), scales (45.5%), flesh (31.0%), and fin (21.2%), compared to fish fed basal diet (P < 0.05). Sixty parts per million astaxanthin had no effect on the weight gain and survival rate. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis showed astaxanthin in its esterified form in goldfish. The second experiment was aimed at determining the dietary level of astaxanthin that improved color of goldfish. Goldfish were fed the same diet supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg yeast astaxanthin/kg for 60 d. The deposition of carotenoids in goldfish fed diets supplemented with astaxanthin increased significantly (P < 0.05) after 15 d of feeding compared to that of the fish fed the diet without astaxanthin, but the effect of dosage of astaxanthin in the diets on the color of goldfish was not completely evident until Day 60 (P < 0.05). During the period of 15–45 d, the deposition of pigments in fish did not increase significantly (P > 0.05) in any treatment with the exception of the diet with 40 mg yeast astaxanthin/kg.