Dietary Supplementation of a Mixture of Nucleotides, β-Glucan and Vitamins C and E Improved the Growth and Health Performance of Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

Abstract

A twelve-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of a functional immunostimulant mixture (FIM; nucleotides, β-glucan and vitamins C and E) on growth, feed utilization, innate immunity, digestive enzyme activity, hematological parameters, intestinal morphology and inflammatory gene expressions of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. A fish meal-based basal diet (control) was formulated, and three other diets were prepared by incorporating 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% FIM into the basal diet (HB0.5, HB1.0 and HB1.5, respectively). Five replicate groups of fish (26.3 ± 0.1 g) were fed one of the experimental diets. Inclusion of 1.5% FIM in the diet significantly enhanced growth and feed utilization. Significantly higher plasma hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein levels and lower plasma glucose level were observed in the HB1.5 group. Total immunoglobulin content, lysozyme, nitroblue tetrazolium, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and immune-related gene expressions of toll-like receptor and perforin were significantly increased at the highest inclusion level. FIM supplementation significantly increased villus height and goblet cell counts. Anti-inflammatory gene expressions were significantly upregulated at a 1.5% level. Dietary supplementation of 1.5% of FIM could improve growth and feed utilization, immune, hematological and intestinal histomorphological parameters of olive flounder.