Effects of Dietary Organic Selenium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E Supplementation on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemistry, and Antioxidant Status in Juvenile Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Hairui Yu ^1* Maida Mushtaq ² Saira Razzak ³ Umar Ali ³ Muhammad Khan ^2* Abdur Rahman ^1* Guobo Quan ² Mehroze Fatima ³ Saima Naveed ⁴ Muhammad Hammad Zafar ⁵ Muhammad Aziz Ur Rahman ⁶

• ¹ Weifang Key Laboratory of Coho Salmon Culturing Facility Engineering, Institute of Modern Facility Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Biology and Oceanography, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China, Weifang, China
• ² Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
• ³ 3Department of Zoology/Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus, Pattoki, Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
• ⁴ Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
• ⁵ College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
• ⁶ Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of selenium (Se), vitamin C, and vitamin E on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidant status in Hypophthalmichthys molitrix juveniles. A total of 480 juveniles (mean weight: 20 ± 0.29 g) were randomly assigned to 24 aquaria (20 fish per 100 L), which were allocated to eight dietary treatments (three aquaria per treatment) following CRD. The dietary treatments WERE (1) a basal diet without supplementation (Control), (2) selenium supplementation (S), (3) vitamin C supplementation (C), ( 4) vitamin E supplementation (E), (5) selenium and vitamin C supplementation (SC), ( 6) selenium and vitamin E supplementation (SE), ( 7) vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation (EC), and (8) selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin E supplementation (SCE). The supplementation levels were 0.9 mg/kg Se, 300 mg/kg vitamin C, and 100 mg/kg vitamin E, respectively. Fish fed the SCE diet exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) final weight, body length, body weight gain, and SGR compared to other treatments. Selenium concentrations in the kidney, liver, pancreas, and muscle were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the SCE, SC, SE, and EC groups compared to the Control and single-supplement groups. Hematological parameters, including WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, and MCHC, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the SCE group compared to all other groups. Similarly, serum activities of ALT, AST, and ALP were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the SCE group than in other treatments, while blood glucose levels were unaffected (p > 0.05) by dietary treatments. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) in the whole body and muscle tissues of fish receiving Se, vitamin C, and E supplementation. The TBARS levels in muscle and serum were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the Control group compared to all supplemented groups. The proximate composition of meat was not significantly affected (p > 0.05) by the dietary treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin E significantly improved growth performance, selenium deposition in tissues, and antioxidant status of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix juveniles.