DL-carnitine as supplementary levocarnitine source in plant-based diets to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

Fábio Marcello da Silva, Maria Leiliane Silva Ferreira, Jorge Eduardo Cavalcante-Lucena, Álvaro José de Almeida Bicudo

Submited: 2017-07-16 11:42:40 | Published: 2018-09-11 10:59:41

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol46-issue4-fulltext-20

Abstract


The objective was to evaluate the effect of DL-carnitine levels on the growth and whole body and muscle composition of Nile tilapia fingerlings. A basal plant-based diet was supplemented with 0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg kg-1 of DL-carnitine hydrochloride in a completely randomized design (n = 3). Fish (initial weight 0.8 ± 0.01 g) was hand-feed daily into three meals until apparent satiety for 70 days. The growth parameters were not influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary DL-carnitine levels. Muscle lipid decreased (P < 0.05) in fish fed with diets supplemented with 3000 and 4000 mg kg-1 of DL-carnitine, but there was no effect (P > 0.05) on whole body lipid. These results with DL-carnitine is similar to other studies using pure Lcarnitine. Thus, the use of DL-carnitine as a source of levocarnitine in Nile tilapia diets require future studies.

da Silva F, Silva Ferreira M, Cavalcante-Lucena J, de Almeida Bicudo Á. DL-carnitine as supplementary levocarnitine source in plant-based diets to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Res.. 2018;46(4): 825-830. Available from: doi:10.3856/vol46-issue4-fulltext-20 [Accessed 21 Dec. 2024].
da Silva, F., Silva Ferreira, M., Cavalcante-Lucena, J., & de Almeida Bicudo, Á. (2018). DL-carnitine as supplementary levocarnitine source in plant-based diets to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 46(4), 825-830. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3856/vol46-issue4-fulltext-20