The Effect of Dietary L-Carnitine on Growth Performance and Lipid Composition in Red Sea Bream Fingerlings

Abstract

The present study is concerned with the effect of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on growth and lipid composition of red sea bream fingerlings. Varying dietary levels of L-carnitine (75, 545, 1087, 2088, and 4162 mg/kg) were administered to five groups of fish during a 42 day period. Fish receiving 2088 mg/kg L-carnitine in their diet showed the highest increase in growth. Feed efficiency was positively correlated with the growth rate of fish and remarkably improved as the amount of L-carnitine in the diet increased up to 2088 mg/kg. Analysis of lipid composition showed that L-carnitine reduces the amount of free fatty acids in liver indicating an increased fatty acid utilization. Specifically it seems that L-carnitine promotes the utilization of long chain fatty acids (20-22 carbon atoms) judging from their reduced content in livers of fish fed on L-carnitine supplemented diets. © 1995, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.