Meeting Abstract
Dietary requirements for both lipid quality and quantity have not been well-established in animals. Further definition is needed to achieve optimal health. In this study, we examined the effects of dietary lipid composition on weight gain, body composition, and reproductive success in wild-type zebrafish. Experimental diets were prepared by varying the ratios of n-6:n-3 fatty acids (1.2:1, 4:1, and 8.5:1) within three levels of total fat (9, 12, and 15%), resulting in a total of nine treatments. Larvae were raised on live feed until 21 days of age, and then fed experimental diets ad libitum for 16 weeks (during the period of rapid juvenile growth and reproductive maturity). At the termination of the 16-week feeding period, each treatment was evaluated based on weight gain, percent body fat, and embryo production. Body weight gain was highest in fish fed diets containing 9% total fat and the 1.2:1 n-6:n-3 ratio, and significantly decreased with increasing dietary lipid and n-6:n-3 ratios. Nominal data indicated that total body lipid and triglyceride storage was highest in fish consuming the 15%, 1.2:1 diet. Additionally, fish fed diets containing 9% total fat exhibited enhanced reproductive success. These results suggest that feeding zebrafish a low-fat diet will improve both reproductive and metabolic health. Further characterization of dietary lipid requirements will help to establish healthy levels of dietary lipid for the zebrafish, and contribute towards the development of a standardized reference diet for use in translational research.
