Effect of different levels of synthetic astaxanthin on growth, skin color and lipid metabolism of commercial sized red porgy (Pagrus pagrus)

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of supplementing commercial feeds with Carophyll® Pink, a gelatin-encapsuled astaxanthin, on growth parameters, lipid composition, pigment concentration and skin color size red porgy. Three isonitrogenous diets were formulated containing different levels astaxantin: Ctrl diet (no added), A50 (with 50 mg/kg astaxanthin) A80 80 mg/ kg astaxanthin). Four groups fish (386.29 ± 29.50 g initial weight) grown in triplicate tanks (10 per tank). Ctrl, fed respective apparent satiation for 180 days, while fourth group 90 days followed by another (A50A80). At end trial muscle samples collected composition analysis, liver mesenteric fat determination carotenoids quantification. Dietary astaxanthin supplementation had no effect performance hepatosomatic index. However, A50A80 displayed lower protein content higher when compared other groups. There clear dietary liver’s fatty acid profile. Although there significant total carotenoids, tended increase supplemented diets, which reflected redness values. Accordingly, (at or 6 months at 3 months) influenced positively hue chroma porgy both pectoral caudal areas, improving sized achieving values close those previously reported wild individuals. The results here provide evidence applicability Pink improve large porgy, but further studies are needed optimize this carotenoid production farming.