THE EFFECT OF DIETARY CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH OF RED-SEA BREAM (PAGRUS-MAJOR) FINGERLINGS AT 2 LEVELS OF DIETARY LYSINE

The effect of dietary carnitine supplementation (2 g kg(-1) diet) on g rowth, proximate, neutral lipid and fatty acid composition of liver an d muscle of red sea bream fingerlings at two levels of dietary lysine (10 and 14 g kg(-1) diet, respectively) was investigated. Carnitine in creased red sea bream growth fed a 14 g lysine kg(-1) diet (P < 0.05) but did not cause any effect on growth in fish fed the 10 g lysine kg( -1) diet, A clear lysine sparing effect of carnitine in red sea bream was not observed, Carnitine did not reduce crude lipid levels in white muscle and liver of fish. Fatty acid composition of total lipids in l iver showed reduced values for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexa enoic acid (DHA) and total long-chain fatty acids with 20 to 24 carbon atoms (Sigma C-20-24) in fish receiving carnitine supplemented diets indicating an increased utilization of the above fatty acids. Free car nitine and acid-soluble carnitine in muscle increased two-fold after c arnitine administration.