title: The effects of different levels of dietary protein and L-carnitine on blood sugar and lipids of the new GIFT strain of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
abstract: The new GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) strain of Nile tilapia is a popular cultivated fish in Asia, but intensive aquaculture using nutritionally imbalanced feed has led to disorder of lipid metabolisms. An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted in order to assess the effects of different levels of L-carnitine (0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg) and dietary protein (22, 25, and 28%) on blood sugar and blood lipid contents of the new juvenile GIFT strain of Nile tilapia. Results showed that dietary protein and L-carnitine had significant influences on glucose (GLU), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood serum. The contents of GLU and HDL-C increased with the increases in dietary protein and L-carnitine levels, while the contents of TC, LDL-C, and TG decreased with the increases in dietary protein and L-carnitine levels. The interactive effect of both dietary protein and L-carnitine was most significant on GLU (p = 0.0001), followed by TG (p = 0.001), TC (p = 0.005), HDL-C (p = 0.056), and LDL-C (p = 0.109). These results suggested that high levels of dietary protein and L-carnitine supplementation reduce blood lipids and the burden of the fish liver.
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524025, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiandong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hongbiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Baogui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jiansheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhaohe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D023681:Cichlids; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D002331:Carnitine