Effect of dietary zinc on the antioxidant parameters of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Abstract

Carp food represents the highest proportion of the total cost of the fish farm. For this reason, it is very important to support carp in diet in the early developmental stages and at an early age with appropriate mineral supplementation. Zinc (Zn) is one of the most important essential micro minerals needed for proper growth, development metabolism and immune function of fish. The current research was designed to examine the antioxidant activity of a fortified diet with different Zn levels in the muscle and liver tissues of common carp fry. A four-iso-nitrogen (35% crude protein) practical diet was produced that included graded levels of dietary zinc sulfate as a dietary zinc source in the basal diet supplemented with increased zinc levels (T1, control, 85 mg mgZnkg-1; T2 105 mg mgZnkg-1; T3, 125 mgZnkg-1 and T4, 145 mgZnkg-1). At the end of the study, even though the SOD and CAT analysis results did not show a linear increase in the increasing Zn ratio in the diets, higher values were obtained compared to the control groups. SOD highest values in T3 for liver (0.713±0.220) and T1 for muscle (0.751±0.144), CAT values highest in T2 for liver (0.849±0.115) and T2 for muscle (1.059±0.148) was obtained. MDA values were completely higher for the muscle than for the control group, and for the liver, a lower value was obtained in the T2 trial group than the control group (1.671±0.230). The results of the study showed that Zn contributed significantly to the nutrition of carp fish. The findings of the present study will help scientists; fish feed producers and fish farmers to optimize dietary Zn concentrations for juvenile carp.