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Assessment of low dietary inclusion of nutraceuticals derived from microalgae to enhance intestinal function in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles
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  • Published: 15 January 2026

Assessment of low dietary inclusion of nutraceuticals derived from microalgae to enhance intestinal function in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles

  • Alba Galafat1,
  • M. I. Sáez1,
  • A. J. Vizcaíno1,
  • A. Barany2 nAff5,
  • E. Perera3,
  • D. Sánchez-Ruiz2,
  • T. F. Martínez1,
  • J. Fuentes3,
  • J. A. Martos-Sitcha2 &
  • …
  • F. J. Alarcón-López1,4 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Animal physiology
  • Ichthyology

Abstract

Development of more sustainable aquaculture requires alternatives to traditional fishmeal and fish oil in aquafeeds. Among the options, microalgae have emerged as promising functional ingredient, with the potential to provide additional benefits in aquaculture animals. The objective of this piece of research was to assess the effect of the microalgal-based functional ingredients, LB-GUThealth and LB-GREENboost on the intestinal function in juvenile gilthead seabream. Digestive enzyme activities, intestinal mucosa structure and ultrastructure, expression of key intestinal genes, and parameters like transepithelial resistance and permeability were analyzed after administration of feeds supplemented with those algal-based ingredients at two dietary levels (0.5 and 1%) during 91 days. Results indicated improvements in feed utilization efficiency, reflected by an expansion of the absorptive surface of the intestinal mucosa, enlargement of the apical surface of enterocytes and extension of microvilli length, together with elevated activity levels of digestive enzymes involved in macronutrient digestion. Additionally, no alterations were observed in basal gene expression related to permeability or the immune system, nor in the bioelectrical parameters associated with the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Results obtained evidenced that the algal-based ingredients tested seem to be useful for improving the intestinal functionality in juvenile gilthead seabream.

Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study have been submitted to the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository (record GSE289127) with the primary accession code oroxcacsxtcbloj.

Abbreviations

EA:

Enterocyte apical area

FCR:

Feed conversion ratio

ILI:

Intestine length index

LBGb :

LB-GREENboost functional ingredient

LBGh :

LB-GUThealth functional ingredient

MD:

Microvilli diameter

ML:

Microvilli length

Papp:

Apparent permeability

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

TAS:

Total enterocyte absorption surface

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

TER:

Transepithelial resistance

TJs:

Intestinal tight junctions

U:

Unit of enzyme activity

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of the University of Almeria (Experimental feeds Service, grant EQC2019-006380-P) on aquafeed elaboration.

Funding

The authors acknowledge the support of the University of Almeria (Experimental feeds Service, grant EQC2019-006380-P) on aquafeed elaboration. The collaboration of LifeBioencapsulation S.L. was supported by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101036768 (NeoGiANT project). This study was also co-founded by ALGAE4FISH CEI·MAR Research Project granted to the spin-off LifeBioencapsulation S.L. (Convocatoria de Proyectos de Innovación Empresarial con Proyección Territorial 2018), the knowledge transfer action grant # 5917 from Junta de Andalucía (Spain), and received support from the Portuguese node of EMBRC-ERIC, specifically EMBRC.PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 and funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through project Assemble Plus under grant agreement No. 730984 to André Barany and Juan Antonio Martos-Sitcha.

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Author notes

  1. A. Barany

    Present address: Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, 28040, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología y Geología, Escuela Superior de Ingeniería, CEI·MAR-Universidad de Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, 04120, Spain

    Alba Galafat, M. I. Sáez, A. J. Vizcaíno, T. F. Martínez & F. J. Alarcón-López

  2. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI-MAR), Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), University of Cádiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz, 11519, Spain

    A. Barany, D. Sánchez-Ruiz & J. A. Martos-Sitcha

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMAN-CSIC), Puerto Real, Cádiz, 11519, Spain

    E. Perera & J. Fuentes

  4. LifeBioencapsulation S.L, Parque Científico PITA, El Alquián, Almería, 04131, Spain

    F. J. Alarcón-López

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Contributions

A. Galafat, E. Perera., J. Fuentes and D. Sánchez conducted the experiments and performed data curation. MI. Sáez, AJ. Vizcaíno, J. Fuentes and A. Barany also performed data curation. Mi Sáez, T. Martínez, F.J. Alarcón-López, and J.A. Martos-Sitcha designed the research. A. Galafat wrote the original draft. All authors reviewed the manuscript. A. Barany, J.A. Martos-Sitcha, and F.J. Alarcón-López were responsible for funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Alba Galafat.

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Galafat, A., Sáez, M.I., Vizcaíno, A.J. et al. Assessment of low dietary inclusion of nutraceuticals derived from microalgae to enhance intestinal function in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36087-z

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  • Received: 05 February 2025

  • Accepted: 09 January 2026

  • Published: 15 January 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36087-z

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Keywords

  • Digestive enzymes
  • Electrophysiology
  • Functional ingredient
  • Gene expression
  • Intestinal mucosa
  • Microalgae
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