Plant oils' inclusion in high fish meal‐substituted diets: effect on digestion and nutrient absorption in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

Here, we performed an 11‐week trial to study the effects of four experimental diets on the digestion, nutrient absorption and intestinal histology of gilthead sea bream. The diets were formulated with a low fish meal content (25%) and were rich (75%) in plant proteins. Fish oil (FO) was replaced at 0%, 33%, 66% and 100% by graded levels of a blend of vegetable oils (VO) (diets FO, 33VO, 66VO and 100VO respectively). Protease activity increased in the pyloric caeca (PC) and decreased in the proximal intestine (PI) of the 66 and 100VO groups, while lipase and α‐amylase activities were not modified by VO. The capacity of brush‐border membrane vesicles obtained from PC, PI and distal intestine to absorb amino acids was not modified, but d ‐glucose and linoleic acid absorption diminished when VO was included in the diets. In summary, these results show that when 75% of protein is provided by vegetable sources in the diet of gilthead sea bream, up to 66% of FO can be replaced by a blend of VO without compromising digestive processes. Only the total replacement of VO results in an impaired digestion, with reduced total protease activity and accumulation of lipid droplets in the enterocytes of the PI.