Insect larvae as feed ingredient selectively increase arachidonic acid content in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurataL.)

Abstract

This work is aimed at obtaining farmed fish designed to contain targeted PUFAs. To this end, an experiment was conducted with farmed specimens of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.), which were fed meal containing different percentages of common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata Meigen) larvae, cultured on appropriate substrates, and then the fatty acid profiles in fish muscles were determined. Results indicate that arachidonic acid content in fish muscle is significantly increased when replacing different proportions of fishmeal by larvae from L. sericata, which contains arachidonic acid up to 10.6% of total fatty acids. Thus, larvae seem to be a suitable vector for introducing target PUFA in fish muscle and it could also contribute to reduce the use of wild fish stocks for fishmeal production.

Effects of insect diets on the gastrointestinal tract health and growth performance of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869)

“…Recently, insect meals have been promoted to replace FM and/or SBM for fish nutrition, such as the larvae of green bottle fly ( Lucilia sericata ) used in gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ) meal [11] or superworm ( Zophobas morio ) for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus [36]. One of the most studied insects as an additive for fish nutrition is the mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor ), which has been evaluated in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) [5], catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) [60], common catfish ( Ameiurus melas ) [73], guppies ( Poecilia reticulata ) [2], and European seabass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ) [21].…”

“…Some of the most important factors of animal health include growth performance parameters and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions. There are many data on the impact of nutrition on the gastrointestinal microbiota and gut health [6–8, 11, 16, 20, 26, 30, 40, 72]. Intestinal diseases can develop as an effect of unbalanced diets resulting in disturbances in the homeostasis of the GIT microbiome.…”

Insects as Food: Fatty Acid Profiles, Lipid Classes, and sn‐2 Fatty Acid Distribution of Lepidoptera Larvae

“…In many cases, insects are a vital dietary element providing nutrients of high biological value including energy. [5,6] Among the FA groups, the n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FA (LCPUFA) are especially relevant in human nutrition, given that in Western diets the n-6/n-3 ratio ranges between 15.0/1 and 16.7/1, instead the optimal dose ratio of 1/1 to 4/1, which is assumed that was in the diet of most Paleolithic peoples. Previously, it has been established that the richness of the different FA classesn-3, n-6, n-9 and saturatedis species-dependent, [2][3][4] although it is possible to modify the FA profiles, especially of larvae, by manipulating the composition of the diet.…”

“…Furthermore, certain insect species, especially during the larval stage, contain high proportions of fat, thereby opening interesting possibilities with alimentary and industrial purposes. Previously, it has been established that the richness of the different FA classes – n ‐3, n ‐6, n ‐9 and saturated – is species‐dependent, although it is possible to modify the FA profiles, especially of larvae, by manipulating the composition of the diet . Among the FA groups, the n ‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated FA (LCPUFA) are especially relevant in human nutrition, given that in Western diets the n ‐6/ n ‐3 ratio ranges between 15.0/1 and 16.7/1, instead the optimal dose ratio of 1/1 to 4/1, which is assumed that was in the diet of most Paleolithic peoples .…”

Sustainability vs. Quality in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) farming: are trade‐offs inevitable?

“…Again, few studies focused on quality aspects; however, the inclusion of 15% insect meal (larvae from Lucilia sericata, Meigen) resulted in an increase in arachidonic acid in gilthead seabream (FBW % 20 g) muscle, as this insect is particularly rich in this essential fatty acid. Seabream growth was, however, negatively impacted (De Haro et al 2015).…”