Vitamin Requirements in Aquaculture
Summary
Vitamins perform indispensable functions in aquaculture species, acting as coenzymes, antioxidants and immune modulators that underpin growth, feed utilisation and disease resistance. Water-soluble B-group vitamins, including thiamine (B₁), riboflavin (B₂), niacin (B₃), pyridoxine (B₆), folic acid and cobalamin (B₁₂), are central to carbohydrate, lipid and amino-acid metabolism, whereas lipid-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K contribute to vision, skeletal development, oxidative balance and coagulation. Deficiencies of individual vitamins can lead to growth stunting, impaired digestive enzyme activity, elevated oxidative stress and weakened non-specific immunity, compromising production efficiency and animal welfare. Requirements vary by species, life stage and rearing conditions, and optimal supplementation must balance physiological need against environmental impact from uneaten feed. Recent advances have explored targeted delivery systems, synergies between vitamins and dietary lipids and species-specific dose–response curves to refine feed formulations. As aquaculture expands to meet global protein demand, precise understanding of vitamin requirements is essential to promote sustainable practices, improve health outcomes and reduce reliance on antibiotic interventions.
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Vitamin Requirements in Aquaculture publication trend
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Technical terms
Specific growth rate (SGR): The percentage increase in body mass per day, used to assess growth performance.
Feed conversion ratio (FCR): The mass of feed required to produce a unit mass gain in the animal, indicating feed efficiency.
Hepatopancreas: A combined liver and pancreatic organ in crustaceans central to digestion, absorption and nutrient storage.
Antioxidant capacity: The ability of an organism or tissue to neutralise reactive oxygen species and prevent oxidative damage.
Malondialdehyde (MDA): A biomarker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress resulting from free-radical attack on cell membranes.
References
- Dietary Pyridoxine Requirements of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Post‐Smolts. Aquaculture Nutrition (2024).
- Dietary Riboflavin Requirement of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Aquaculture Nutrition (2023).
- The interaction of dietary niacin and lipid affects the growth, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism of male Eriocheir sinensis. Aquaculture Reports (2023).
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