Effect of dietary catechin and Spirulina on vitamin C metabolism in Red Sea bream

The zero-year red sea bream Pagrus major were fed for 41 days on dry pellet s containing 1% Teaflan (60% catechin) or Spirulina supplement. The effects of catechin and Spirulina on ascorbate absorption, lipid metabolism, and c ollagen synthesis were compared in relation to vitamin C nutrition. Total a scorbate concentrations in the serum and liver were increased significantly in the catechin-fed groups relative to the control, but Spirulina increase d in value only in liver. Feeding with catechin and Spirulina depressed non -esterified fatty acid and total lipid in serum, respectively. Liver lipid was depressed by feeding catechin and Spirulina. Hepatic free carnitine and long-chain acylcarnitine contents were markedly higher in both catechin- a nd Spirulina-fed groups than in the controls. Hepatic carnitine palmitoyltr ansferase activity was markedly elevated in the Spirulina-fed group. In con trast, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthase activities were not different among the groups. The collagen fraction soluble at 20 d egrees C was lower and the insoluble collagen fraction (not soluble at 70 d egrees C) was higher in catechin- and Spirulina-fed groups, These results s uggest that dietary supplementation with catechin, as well as Spirulina, im proved vitamin C metabolism in young red sea bream.