Vitamin C Supplementation in Aquatic Nutrition

Vitamin C, or l-ascorbic acid, is indispensable in aquaculture diets owing to the inability of most fish and crustaceans to synthesise this micronutrient endogenously. Its roles encompass collagen formation, antioxidant defence, immune regulation and stress mitigation. Adequate dietary inclusion enhances growth rates, feed efficiency and survival, while bolstering resilience against environmental challenges such as hypoxia, temperature fluctuations and pathogenic assaults. Uniform requirements vary by species, developmental stage and feed composition, but typically range from tens to several hundred milligrams per kilogram of diet. Innovative delivery systems, including coated or sustained-release formulations, have improved stability and bioavailability under practical farming conditions. As global aquaculture expands, optimising vitamin C supplementation remains central to sustainable production, animal welfare and the reduction of chemotherapeutic interventions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies in decapod crustaceans have demonstrated that graded levels of coated l-ascorbic acid incorporated into isoproteic diets markedly improve growth performance, feed conversion and survival. In red swamp crayfish, intermediate supplementation yielded the greatest biomass gain alongside enhanced serum total protein, albumin and immune enzyme activities. Antioxidant capacity was elevated through increased catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, with reduced lipid peroxidation in hepatopancreatic tissue. Histological examinations revealed preserved cellular architecture across most supplementation levels. Dose–response analyses suggest an optimal inclusion of around 380 mg/kg diet to maximise growth and health parameters in pre-adult crayfish.

Vitamin C Supplementation in Aquatic Nutrition publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in vitamin c supplementation in aquatic nutrition across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C): a water-soluble vitamin essential for collagen synthesis, antioxidant protection and immune function.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR): the weight of feed required to produce one unit of animal biomass, a key metric of dietary efficiency.

Oxidative stress: the disturbance of cellular redox homeostasis due to excess reactive oxygen species, leading to potential tissue damage.

Nrf2–Keap1 signalling pathway: a regulatory cascade that induces antioxidant gene expression in response to oxidative stimuli.

Respiratory burst activity: the rapid release of reactive oxygen species by phagocytic cells as part of non-specific immunity.

References

1. Effects of l-ascorbic acid on growth, non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal and hepatopancreatic histology of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Vitamin C Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis Induced by Acute Hypoxia through the Nrf2/Keap1 Signaling Pathway in Gibel Carp (Carassius gibelio). Antioxidants (2022).
3. Effects of Dietary Vitamin C on the Growth Performance, Biochemical Parameters, and Antioxidant Activity of Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum, 1792) Postsmolts. Aquaculture Nutrition (2022).