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Dietary Effects of Microalgae As A Replacement of Fish Oil in Fish A Review
Dietary Effects of Microalgae As A Replacement of Fish Oil in Fish A Review
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Md. Shoebul Islam, Md. Arifuzzaman, Md. Touhidul Islam, Md.Iqramul Haque
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Shrimp Research Station,
Bagerhat-9300
To achieve a sustainable aquaculture, it is necessary to essential amino acids, protein, minerals, vitamins,
introduce alternative protein sources, such as cheaper chlorophylls, and various antioxidants and bioactive
proteins of plant or animal origin, for stable aqua feed compounds (Kwak et al., 2012). They are required for the
production (Higgs et al., 1995). Several algal species have nutrition of larvae during the life cycle of many
been utilized in aquaculture primarily for nutritional commercially valuable fish. Size, shape, digestibility, and
purposes. Algae are a diverse group of aquatic, biochemical compositions determine the nutritional value of
photosynthetic organisms that are primarily classified as microalgae (Brown et al., 1997). On the other hand, they are
macroalgae (e.g., seaweed) or microalgae (unicellular). In used not only as basic nutrients and immune stimulants, but
tropical and subtropical regions where algae production is also as a source of pigments for coloring the skinA large
high, algae can be a good alternative protein source for number of well-designed feeding trials are still necessary to
farmed fish (El-Hindawy et al., 2006). Microalgae can grow evaluate the potential of microalgae as a replacement for
in a wide variety of habitats, have several times higher fish oil in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of
biomass production than plants, can divide quickly with how microalgae can be used in fish feeds (Shah et al., 2018).
simple nutritional requirements, can accumulate useful Nonetheless, it appears that microalgae will play a
metabolites, and their availability is not dependent on the significant role in the effort to make aqua-feed formulation
capture of wild fish for fishmeal (Hemaiswarya et al., 2011). more sustainable in the future.
With encouraging results, the use of microalgae as fish feed
ingredients has been investigated. Microalgae are a diverse This paper provides a comprehensive review of the
group of photosynthetic heterotrophic organisms containing potential of microalgal feed as a substitute for fish oil.
III. MICROALGAE AS A USEFUL NUTRIENT their sources of carbohydrates. Typically, algal lipids are
SOURCE made of glycerol, sugars, or bases that are esterified to form
fatty acids with carbon numbers between C12 and C22 that
Microalgae are widely utilized to raise aquatic can be saturated or unsaturated. Triglycerides are the most
creatures including mollusks, shrimp, and fish at various prevalent storage lipids and can make up to 80% of
growth stages and play a significant role in the aquatic food cyanobacteria's total lipid composition (Tornabene et
chain (Borowitzka,1998). A number of microalgae with high al.1983). In blue green algae, monogalactosyldiglyceride,
protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content are regarded as digalactosyldiglyceride, and sulfoquinovosyldiglyceride are
crucial feed ingredients. According to Renaud et al. (1994), the main cellular lipids (Nichols et al., 1970). Scenedesmus
diatoms have more protein than other chlorophycean obliquus has a comprehensive lipid profile, according to
species. Due to their 40–70% protein levels, Spirulina, Choi et al. (1987), with neutral lipid, glycolipid, and
Scenedesmus, and Chlorella were regarded as sources of phospholipid fractions at levels of 7.24, 2.45, and 1.48% on
single cell protein (Venkataraman et al., 1985). The entire a dry weight basis, respectively, and a total lipid content of
algal biomass's indigestibility is significantly influenced by 11.7%.
carbohydrates (Percival and Turvey1974). Algae contain
starch, cellulose, sugars, and other polysaccharides among
IV. APPLICATION OF MICROALGAL FEED IN from eating microalgae directly (Reitan et al., 1997).
AQUACULTURE According to one study, feeding microalgae coupled with a
specially designed micro particle diet could help Red Drum
It is commonly recognized that adding microalgae to (Sciaenops ocellatus) larvae consume less live zooplankton
larval fish culture tanks has many advantages, including (Lazo et al., 2000). The optimum way to employ algae in
preventing bumping into tank walls, increasing zooplankton fish feeds should probably be discovered by focusing on
predation, enhancing zooplankton nutritional value, and larval meals.
promoting digestive and immunological functions in larvae.
It has been found that some fish larvae considerably benefit
Weight gain (g) =final wet weight–initial wet weight experiment done by Sprague et al. (2015). Fish fed the 11%
FCR, feed conversion ratio = feed intake/ weight gain AM food grew at a somewhat slower rate than fish fed the
Specific growth rate SGR (%/day) = 100 x (ln final wet 5.5 AM diet and both fish oil treatments. Also, both
weight (g)–ln initial wet weight (g)) / Time (days) treatments fed on algae had food conversion ratios (FCR)
PER, protein efficiency ratio = weight gain (g)/protein fed that were equivalent to SFO but much greater than fish fed
(g)%Survival = (Final number of fish / Initial number of on NFO. One cause might have to do with digestion,
fish) x 100. especially given the larger presence of algal meal. Up to 6%
of microalgae inclusion resulted in high 327digestibility, but
Fish fed a FO diet of either northern (NFO) or 12% of microalgae inclusion caused a reduction in
southern hemisphere (SFO) origin were compared to fish digestibility, though appetite remained unaffected.
fed a diet of DHA-rich Schizochytrium sp. algal meal (AM)
at two inclusion levels (11% and 5.5% of diet) in an
NFO: FO diet of northern, SFO: FO diet of southern, (F50S50), 50% (M50 F25 S25), and 100% raw microalgae
AM: Algal meal DHA- and EPA-rich microalgae (M100), were compared with a diet that contained 100%
Schizochytrium sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. were used in an soybean oil (S100) (Table 5). The greatest results were
experiment by Qiao et al. (2014) to replace dietary fish oil in obtained with a fish diet containing a combination of M50
olive flounder (Paralichthysolivaceus). Three experimental F25 S25 for weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR),
diets, each with a lipid supply made up of 50% fish oil feed conversion ratio (FCR), and daily feed intake (DFI).
Diet
S100(control) F50 S50 M50 F25 S25 M100
Initial mass(g) 15.3 16.5±0.43 17.0±0.9 16.5±1.26
Chart Title
R150
Microalgal diet (g/kg)
R100
R75
R50
R25
R0
FBW FBL
Fig. 4: Observed Final Body Weight(FBW) and Final Body Length(FBL) of shrimp (Litopenaeusvannamei) with the replacement
of Microalgal diet. (Source: Wanget al., (2017)
According to Eryalçınet al., (2015) four experimental containing equal amounts of 5.5 %
micro diets with different sources of EPA and DHA were Nannochloropsisgaditana and Crypthecodiniumcohnii (diet
prepared a control diet (Control) based on fish oil, a diet N+C). 8%Crypthecodiniumcohnii (diet C) showed
containing11% Nannochloropsisgaditana (diet N), a diet Significant survival rate showed by diet C than the others
containing 8% Crypthecodiniumcohnii(diet C), a diet diet.
Fig. 5: Survival of gilthead sea bream larvae fed with different experimental diets after 17 days.
VII. EFFECT OF MICROALGAE AS A C22:5n-6 content and the n-3/n-6 ratio, although DHA,
REPLACEMENT OF FISH OIL ON FATTY EPA, and n-3 PUFA were not significantly reduced. When
ACIDS COMPOSITION AND BLOOD M100 was swapped for DHA, the DHA level in the liver
CHEMISTRY significantly increased. Our research revealed that the n-3
PUFA in MRM were digested and absorbed. Full
The composition of dietary fatty acids (FA) has a replacement of fish oil with MRM can not only preserve the
pronounced influence on the FA profile of fish tissues EPA and DHA content of fish muscle, but also increase the
(Tanet et al., 2009). (Table 6). In a second study, decreasing n-3/n-6 ratio, both of which are beneficial to human health.
quantities of C18:1n-9, C18:2n-6, and C18:3n-3 were found This study reveals that MRM can be substituted for fish oil
in the muscle and liver of fish as the fish oil and soybean oil in the meals of olive flounder for 56 days without impairing
content of their diets decreased. In addition, replacing fish the performance or lipid metabolism of the fish.
oil with Microalgae Raw Material (MRM) increased
Qiao et al. (2014) investigated the impact of (HDL-CHO) concentrations of S100 fish were considerably
microalgal diets on the blood chemistry of olive flounder higher or lower than those of fish fed other diets. S100 fish
(Paralichthysolivaceus) fish (Figure 5). It was demonstrated exhibited the highest TG concentration among those fed the
that n-3 PUFA inhibited TG accumulation (Kimet et al., four diets, yet the lowest CHO and HDL-CHO values. In
2006), specifically limited fat depot hypertrophy (Belzunget addition, a low concentration of HDL-CHO was observed in
et al., 1993), and therefore downregulated adipocyte the plasma of S100 fish, indicating that replacing fish oil
differentiation and decreased fat production (Kimet et al., with soy oil has an effect on lipid deposition and
2006; Belzunget et al., 1993). (Kimet et al., 2006; Belzunget metabolism. The graph demonstrates that replacing a fish's
et al., 1993). (Okunoet et al.1997). The triglyceride (TG), meal with microalgae reduces plasma levels of cholesterol
cholesterol (CHO), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides and, sssubsequently, fat formation.
Fig. 6: The concentrations of some plasma constituents of juvenile olive flounder fed the different experimental diets for 8 weeks.
(TG, triglyceride; CHO, cholesterol; HDL-CHO, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-CHO, low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol).Source: Qiaoet al., (2014)
Stoneham et al. (2018) observed a study in which FO5%, AM1.75%, AM5.26%, and AM8.73%. In this study,
tilapia was cultivated on experimental meals containing the optimal diet for enhancing the fatty acid profile was
varying concentrations of n-3 fatty acids. The experimental AM8.77%, which led to more DHA and Omega-3
diets consisted of a control (cornoil, 6.3%), FO1%, FO3%, accumulation in fish fillet.
300
mg DHA and mg Omega-3
250
200
150
100
50
0
Control Fish oil 1% Fish oil 3% Fish oil 5% Algae meal Algae meal Algae meal
1.75% 5.26% 8.77%
experimental diet
mg DHA mg Omega-3
Fig. 7: Nutritional fatty acid profiles of mg DHA and mg Omega-3 in tilapia fillet. Source: Stoneham et al., (2018)