Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is one of the most popular chelating agents. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of EDTA on the growth and health physiology of beluga (38.47 ± 0.58 g) before and after heavy metal stress (HMS). Five experimental diets, including control, 0.5EDTA, 1EDTA, 1.5EDTA and 2EDTA, were formulated to feed fish for eight weeks. The results showed that fish was fed with dietary 1.5EDTA (108.37 g) had a higher weight gain as compared with control (p < 0.05). Blood performance in the control group after HMS decreased but not in fish fed supplemented diets with EDTA. EDTA reduced uric acid and creatinine levels in beluga. Fish fed dietary 1.5EDTA had a higher value of blood performance (55.17), glucose (50.3 mg/dl), superoxide dismutase (SOD U/ml) (75.8) and glutathione peroxidase (234.0 U/ml) after HMS as compared with the control. Additionally, lower values of uric acid (3.05 mg/dl), creatinine (0.27 mg/dl) and AST (61.47 U/ml) after HMS in the 1.5EDTA group were observed (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between EDTA level and protein efficiency, lipid efficiency, and blood performance and a strong negative correlation with some parameters after stress, including SOD, glucose, uric acid, creatinine and aspartate transaminase (p < 0.01). In conclusion, feeding fish with the 1.5EDTA diet improved growth and detoxified heavy metals.

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