Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)

Serum proteins are essential for maintaining osmotic pressure, regulating pH, transporting metabolites, and supporting immune responses. Studying the effects of plant-based diets on these proteins is crucial to understanding their impact on fish health and immune function. Methods: This study was co...

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Main Authors: Alejandro Villasante, Elías Figueroa, Karina Godoy, Patricio Dantagnan, Johana López-Polo, Rafael Opazo, Jaime Romero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Fishes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/110
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author Alejandro Villasante
Elías Figueroa
Karina Godoy
Patricio Dantagnan
Johana López-Polo
Rafael Opazo
Jaime Romero
author_facet Alejandro Villasante
Elías Figueroa
Karina Godoy
Patricio Dantagnan
Johana López-Polo
Rafael Opazo
Jaime Romero
author_sort Alejandro Villasante
collection DOAJ
description Serum proteins are essential for maintaining osmotic pressure, regulating pH, transporting metabolites, and supporting immune responses. Studying the effects of plant-based diets on these proteins is crucial to understanding their impact on fish health and immune function. Methods: This study was conducted in a recirculation system, with rainbow trout distributed across nine tanks and fed three diets: fishmeal (control), medium plant meal (MPM; 40% of fishmeal replacement), and high plant meal (HPM; 80% of fishmeal replacement). Plasma protein and plasma glucose levels were measured at the initial and final stages, under both fasting (24 h after fast) and postprandial (6 h after fed) conditions, to assess dietary impacts. Additionally, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was calculated at the end of the experiment to evaluate potential liver adaptations to the diets. Results: The initial protein and glucose levels were similar across all groups. However, by the end of the treatment, the fishmeal-fed group showed significantly higher total protein and globulin levels, while the albumin levels remained consistent across diet types. A significant interaction between sampling time and dietary treatment in fish reduced the clarity of dietary effects on postprandial plasma glucose levels. Furthermore, the HSI was significantly lower in fish fed the high plant meal (HPM) diet compared to the fishmeal and medium plant meal (MPM) groups, suggesting potential metabolic adaptation in response to plant-based diets. Conclusions: Replacing fishmeal with plant-based proteins in rainbow trout diets reduces total globulin and protein concentrations but leaves albumin unaffected, alongside reductions in fasting and postprandial glucose levels. The low growth and different HSI in fish fed plant-based diets highlights potential liver stress, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize sustainable aquaculture feeds while maintaining fish health and performance.
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spelling doaj-art-9cabcc7ceee34871bac6a38a5cb1a0822025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882025-03-0110311010.3390/fishes10030110Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)Alejandro Villasante0Elías Figueroa1Karina Godoy2Patricio Dantagnan3Johana López-Polo4Rafael Opazo5Jaime Romero6Laboratorio de Biotecnología de Alimentos, Unidad de Alimentos, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7830490, ChileNúcleo de Investigación en Producción Alimentaria, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4781312, ChileNúcleo Científico y Tecnológico en Biorecursos (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, ChileNúcleo de Investigación en Producción Alimentaria, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4781312, ChileLaboratorio de Biotecnología de Alimentos, Unidad de Alimentos, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7830490, ChileLaboratorio de Biotecnología de Alimentos, Unidad de Alimentos, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7830490, ChileLaboratorio de Biotecnología de Alimentos, Unidad de Alimentos, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7830490, ChileSerum proteins are essential for maintaining osmotic pressure, regulating pH, transporting metabolites, and supporting immune responses. Studying the effects of plant-based diets on these proteins is crucial to understanding their impact on fish health and immune function. Methods: This study was conducted in a recirculation system, with rainbow trout distributed across nine tanks and fed three diets: fishmeal (control), medium plant meal (MPM; 40% of fishmeal replacement), and high plant meal (HPM; 80% of fishmeal replacement). Plasma protein and plasma glucose levels were measured at the initial and final stages, under both fasting (24 h after fast) and postprandial (6 h after fed) conditions, to assess dietary impacts. Additionally, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was calculated at the end of the experiment to evaluate potential liver adaptations to the diets. Results: The initial protein and glucose levels were similar across all groups. However, by the end of the treatment, the fishmeal-fed group showed significantly higher total protein and globulin levels, while the albumin levels remained consistent across diet types. A significant interaction between sampling time and dietary treatment in fish reduced the clarity of dietary effects on postprandial plasma glucose levels. Furthermore, the HSI was significantly lower in fish fed the high plant meal (HPM) diet compared to the fishmeal and medium plant meal (MPM) groups, suggesting potential metabolic adaptation in response to plant-based diets. Conclusions: Replacing fishmeal with plant-based proteins in rainbow trout diets reduces total globulin and protein concentrations but leaves albumin unaffected, alongside reductions in fasting and postprandial glucose levels. The low growth and different HSI in fish fed plant-based diets highlights potential liver stress, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize sustainable aquaculture feeds while maintaining fish health and performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/110aquacultureplant mealplant-based dietshepatosomatic index (HSI)rainbow troutglobulins
spellingShingle Alejandro Villasante
Elías Figueroa
Karina Godoy
Patricio Dantagnan
Johana López-Polo
Rafael Opazo
Jaime Romero
Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)
Fishes
aquaculture
plant meal
plant-based diets
hepatosomatic index (HSI)
rainbow trout
globulins
title Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)
title_full Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)
title_fullStr Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)
title_short Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Hepatosomatic Index, Circulating Globulins and Growth in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>)
title_sort impact of plant based diets on hepatosomatic index circulating globulins and growth in rainbow trout i oncorhynchus mykiss i
topic aquaculture
plant meal
plant-based diets
hepatosomatic index (HSI)
rainbow trout
globulins
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/110
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