Effects of α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation in preslaughter diet on antioxidant enzyme activities and fillet quality of commercial-size Sparus macrocephalus

This study examined the effects of dietary α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activities and fillet quality in commercial-size Sparus macrocephalus. Three hundred fish [main initial weight （350±12） g] were divided into three groups （E250, E500 and El000） and reared in 9 cages. The fish were fed for 8 weeks with three diets containing different levels of dietary α-tocopheryl acetate （289, 553, 1069 mg/kg）. Over the experimental period, fish were fed to satiation and reached a final mean weight of （465±28） g without significant body weight difference and proximate composition difference. Fillet α-tocopherol was significantly （P〈0.05） different between groups, reaching levels of 14.2, 22.1, 30.9 pg/mg fillet for groups E250, E500 and El000, respectively. Total serum superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity increased significantly （P〈0.05） in fish fed the diets high in α-tocopheryl acetate, but serum glutathione peroxidase （GPX） activity was unaffected. In storage on ice, fillets of fish fed the diets high in α-tocopheryl acetate exhibited significantly lower （P〈0.05） levels of oxidation. These results suggested that increased dietary α-tocopheryl acetate could increase its flesh deposition, increase the activity of SOD and prevent lipid peroxidation ofSparus macrocephalus fillets in retail storage on ice.

This study examined the effects of dietary α-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activities and fillet quality in commercial-size Sparus macrocephalus. Three hundred fish [main initial weight (350±12) g] were divided into three groups (E250, E500 and E1000) and reared in 9 cages. The fish were fed for 8 weeks with three diets containing different levels of dietary α-tocopheryl acetate (289, 553, 1 069 mg/kg). Over the experimental period, fish were fed to satiation and reached a final mean weight of (465±28) g without significant body weight difference and proximate composition difference. Fillet α-tocopherol was significantly (P<0.05) different between groups, reaching levels of 14.2, 22.1, 30.9 μg/mg fillet for groups E250, E500 and E1000, respectively. Total serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased significantly (P<0.05) in fish fed the diets high in α-tocopheryl acetate, but serum glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity was unaffected. In storage on ice, fillets of fish fed the diets high in α-tocopheryl acetate exhibited significantly lower (P<0.05) levels of oxidation. These results suggested that increased dietary α-tocopheryl acetate could increase its flesh deposition, increase the activity of SOD and prevent lipid peroxi-dation of Sparus macrocephalus fillets in retail storage on ice.