Effect of supplemental carnitine on body weight loss, proximate and lipid compositions and carnitine content of red sea bream (Pagrus major) during starvation

The effect of supplemental dietary carnitine on the body weight loss, lipid composition and carnitine content of dorsal muscle of red sea bream during starvation was investigated. Two experimental groups of red sea bream fingerlings were used. One group was fed a control diet (Diet 1; < 0.09 g carnitine/kg feed) for 30 days prior to starvation while the second group was fed a carnitine-supplemented diet (Diet 2; 4 g carnitine/kg feed). Then fish were deprived of feed for 30 days. During the feeding period, fish fed Diet 2 accumulated free-carnitine in their dorsal muscle. The acid-soluble acylcarnitine content remained constant, indicating a redistribution of free and esterified carnitine. Although the long-chain acylcarnitine in the dorsal muscle increased during starvation, no difference was observed in the long-chain acylcarnitine content between the carnitine and the control group. The higher concentration of carnitine in the diet prior to starvation clearly did not show any effect on body weight loss or on the proximate and fatty acid compositions of dorsal muscle nor on the fatty acid composition of the liver. Carnitine supplementation prior to starvation did not show any clear effect on lipid classes in dorsal muscle and liver or on crude lipid and water concentration in liver during starvation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.