Effects of Myo-Inositol on the Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Antioxidation of Juvenile Hucho taimen

Abstract

Hucho taimen is a cold-water fish with high economic value. Myo-inositol (MI) can accelerate lipid metabolism and promote growth in fish species. The present study aimed to assess the effect of MI on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and antioxidation of juvenile H. taimen. Accordingly, an 8-week feeding trial was conducted. The results demonstrated that increasing MI concentration promoted growth performance in H. taimen. Among the MI concentrations tested, a dose of 328 mg MI/kg corresponded with the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) and the highest growth rate. Compared with fish fed a diet of 128 mg MI/kg, the lipase activity in the pyloric caeca significantly increased in fish fed 528 mg MI/kg, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in fish fed 728 mg MI/kg. Consistently, the 128 mg MI/kg diet presented the highest malonaldehyde (MDA) levels. In conclusion, our study revealed that enhanced growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and antioxidant capacity increased as MI concentration increased. The optimum level of dietary MI in H. taimen was 270–321 mg/kg, based on the FCR and specific growth rate (SGR) on the broken-line regression.