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 br eam during starvation was investigated. Two experimental groups of red sea bream fingerlings were used. One group was fed a control diet (Di et 1; < 0.09 g carnitine/kg feed) for 30 days prior to starvation whil e 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. Durin g the feeding period, fish fed Diet 2 accumulated free-carnitine in th eir dorsal muscle. The acid-soluble acylcarnitine content remained con stant, indicating a redistribution of free and esterified carnitine. A lthough the long-chain acylcarnitine in the dorsal muscle increased du ring starvation, no difference was observed in the long-chain acylcarn itine 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 sh ow any clear effect on lipid classes in dorsal muscle and liver or on crude lipid and water concentration in liver during starvation. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science B.V.