A meta‐analysis of the effects of black soldier fly meal on fish immune response and antioxidant capacity

Abstract

Black soldier fly (BSF) meal possesses a balanced nutritional profile, making it a promising substitute for fishmeal. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of replacing fishmeal with BSF meal on fish immune response and antioxidant capacity. However, considering the varying effects of BSF meal on different fish species demonstrated in earlier studies, a meta-analysis study was imperative to determine the efficacy of BSF meal in aquafeed. This meta-analysis examined 38 studies on finfish. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were conducted to investigate the source of heterogeneity in the immunostimulant and antioxidant efficacy of BSF meal. Categorical variables used in subgroup analysis included the BSF development stage (larvae versus prepupae or pupae), BSF processing method (full-fat versus defatted), and fish dietary habits. Two continuous variables were evaluated for meta-regression analysis: dietary BSF inclusion level and treatment duration. The datasets were assessed for publication bias using funnel plots and Egger's test with the Pustejovsky–Rodgers Approach. The results revealed that BSF meal influences immune performance and antioxidant ability. Subgroup analysis indicated that different BSF development stages significantly influence the immunostimulant and antioxidant efficacy of BSF meals, with BSF prepupae or pupae outperforming BSF larvae. In terms of processing, full-fat BSF was superior to defatted BSF. Furthermore, BSF meal demonstrated the highest efficacy in omnivorous fishes. Meta-regression outcomes revealed that a higher concentration of BSF meal may inhibit immune response and antioxidant ability and that treatment duration exerts little impact. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis demonstrated that BSF is a promising ingredient in aquafeed to improve fish immune response and antioxidant capacity.