Carp are a popular choice in aquaculture, but maintaining their health can be challenging. Perhaps you have encountered the issue of feeding your carp only to discover that the food (due to fat oxidation) has spoiled. This can happen and has consequences for growth, poor muscle quality, and even oxidative stress in fish. However, a new study offers a promising solution: taurine.
A study conducted by a team of scientists from Henan Normal University (China) experimented to explore the effects of taurine on the growth, antioxidant properties, and muscle quality of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed a diet of oxidized lipids (fats).
The problem of spoiled fats
Fats (lipids) are essential for fish, providing vital energy and nutrients. However, fats are susceptible to oxidation, a process that degrades them and creates harmful compounds such as aldehydes and ketones. This oxidation can occur due to various factors, including the type of fat, storage conditions, and even transportation methods.
The researchers conducted a 10-week experiment feeding common carp with different diets. One group received a diet including fresh fish oil, while others received a diet with oxidized oil (with a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances value of 49.57 ± 2.34 mg/kg).
The carp fed with a diet of oxidized fats experienced several problems:
- Slower growth: They gained less weight and had a poorer feed conversion ratio, meaning they used their food less efficiently.
- Muscle damage: Their muscle tissue showed signs of oxidative stress, with elevated levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonylation. These are markers of damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that damage cells.
- Lower quality meat: The muscle was less firm, elastic, and bright, and had a lower pH level. This translates to a less desirable texture and flavor for consumers.
Taurine to the Rescue
Fortunately, research suggests a natural solution to this problem: taurine. This amino acid acts as an antioxidant, scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative damage. Studies have shown that taurine supplementation in fish fed oxidized lipids can offer significant benefits in improving growth, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing muscle quality.
The researchers also tested the effects of adding taurine, a natural amino acid, to the diet of carp fed oxidized fat. The results were impressive:
- Improved growth: Taurine supplementation, particularly at a level of 4 grams per kilogram of diet, significantly increased the growth rate of carp fed spoiled fats.
- Enhanced muscle quality: Taurine improved the texture and color of the muscle, making it firmer, more elastic, and brighter. It also increased the content of collagen and healthy omega-3 fatty acids, both important for human health and desirable in fish meat.
- Reduced oxidative stress: Taurine helped counteract the harmful effects of degraded fat by increasing antioxidant activity in muscle tissue.
Finding the right amount
The optimal amount of taurine supplementation depends on the desired outcome. For the best overall growth performance, 4 grams of taurine per kilogram of diet seems ideal. However, for the best muscle quality, a slightly higher amount (between 6.84 and 7.70 grams per kilogram) might be beneficial.
This research suggests that taurine can be a valuable tool in aquaculture. Aquaculturists can promote healthy growth, improve product quality, and ultimately ensure a thriving and sustainable aquaculture industry by adding taurine to fish diets containing oxidized fats.
Conclusion
This study investigated the effects of taurine on common carp fed a diet containing spoiled fats (oxidized lipids). Here are the key conclusions:
- Spoiled fats harm carp health: Feeding carp oxidized lipids led to a cascade of negative effects, including stunted growth, lower muscle quality (softer texture, duller color), and reduced levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
- Taurine to the rescue: Supplementing the diet with taurine significantly improved the situation. In particular, a dose of 4 grams per kilogram of diet effectively counteracted growth inhibition.
- Improved muscle quality: Higher levels of taurine (6.84-7.70 grams per kilogram) were more beneficial for muscle quality. Taurine improved antioxidant defenses within muscle tissue, enhanced texture and other physical properties, and promoted the growth of muscle fibers and collagen content.
The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Special Fund for Henan Agriculture Research System (HARS-22-16-G2), and the Innovation Scientists and Technicians’ Troop Construction Projects of Henan Normal University.
Contact
Guoxing Nie
Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed Research Team, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University
Xinxiang, 453007, China
Email: niegx@htu.cn
Reference (open access)
Liu, D., Mi, J., Yan, X., Qin, C., Wang, J., & Nie, G. (2024). Taurine Alleviated the Negative Effects of an Oxidized Lipid Diet on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Properties, and Muscle Quality of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Aquaculture Nutrition, 2024(1), 5205506. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5205506
