Vitamin D2 is not biologically active for Rora (Labeo rohita) as vitamin D3

Abstract

The present investigation was directed towards finding the relative biopotency of vitamin D3 and D2 in fish. The freshwater column feeder fish Labeo rohita (Rora) was used for the study. The feeding of Rora with graded levels of vitamin D2 (550, 1,100 and 1,650 i.u./kg diet) and vitamin D3 (1,100 and 1,650 i.u./kg diet) resulted in no behavioural or morphological changes in comparison with the group fed a vitamin D-deficient diet. Also, the growth rate, feed efficiency, mortality rate, carcass protein, total lipids, calcium and phosphorus were found to remain unaltered in the vitamin D-deficient fish and fish fed any form of the vitamin. Further, there is no difference in any of the above parameters between the different doses of vitamin D3 or vitamin D2. Thus, the results of this study indicate that both of the forms of vitamin D (D2 or D3) are not biologically active for Rora (Labeo rohita) as a representative of freshwater fish.