Effects of different sodium acetate levels on growth, antioxidant capacity, and fat deposition in juvenile Onychostoma macrolepis fed a high fat diet

Abstract

Short‐chain fatty acids are regarded as promising feed additives, acetate is one of them. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of sodium acetate (SA) on Onychostoma macrolepis fed a high‐fat diet. O. macrolepis (2.1 ± 0.1 g) were reared in 12 aquariums (three aquarium/group, 15 fish/aquarium), fed a high‐fat diet (control), and a high‐fat diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0%, or 2.0% SA for 56 days. Diet supplemented with 1.0% SA significantly increased the weight gain of O. macrolepis fed the high‐fat diet. Dietary SA reduced serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. The addition of 1.0% and 2.0% SA significantly decreased non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and TG concentrations in liver. Dietary SA (1.0% and 2.0%) significantly improved total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase activities in the liver. In comparison to the control group, the addition of 1.0% and 2.0% SA significantly up‐regulated lipolysis gene expression levels in the liver. These findings suggest that high fat diets supplemented with 1%–2.0% SA can improve growth, liver health, and antioxidant capacity in O. macrolepis.