Effect of vitamin A supplement on the growth performance, antioxidant status, and lipid accumulation of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir Sinensis fed different lipid levels

This study evaluates the influence of dietary vitamin A on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism of Eriocheir sinensis juveniles (3.95 ± 0.12 g) fed different lipid levels. Crabs were fed with four diets, including normal lipid (7%) with vitamin A devoid (0 IU/kg, NL-VAD), normal lipid (7%) with vitamin A supplement (6000 IU/kg, NL-VAS), high lipid (13%) with vitamin A devoid (0 IU/kg, HL-VAD), and high lipid (13%) with A supplement (6000 IU/kg, HL-VAS) for 8 weeks. The significant interaction between dietary vitamin A and lipid level was found in weight gain, specific growth rate, and the mRNA of lipid synthesis related genes and retinoid X receptor. Under high lipid diets, vitamin A supplementation did not affect final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate. Regardless of dietary lipid levels, vitamin A enhanced the activities of relevant antioxidant indices (total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase). Vitamin A supplementation also reduced the excessive malondialdehyde in the hepatopancreas caused by high-fat diets. In the high lipid group, dietary vitamin A reduced hepatosomatic index, total lipid in the whole body and hepatopancreas, and triglyceride and free fatty acids in the hepatopancreas. Vitamin A supplementation reduced lipid accumulation in the crab fed high lipid diets by promoting genes expression about lipid oxidation and transport. Under high lipid diets, restrained lipid synthesis was found in the vitamin A supplementation group compared with the vitamin A-free group. This research suggests that dietary vitamin A can ameliorate lipid peroxidation and promote lipid utilization by optimizing lipid metabolism in E. sinensis fed a high-fat diet. • The interaction between dietary vitamin A and lipid level affected growth performance and lipid synthesis. • Dietary vitamin A improved the antioxidant capacity in E. sinensis . • Dietary vitamin A reduced the lipid deposition in E. sinensis . • Dietary vitamin A upregulated lipid oxidation and transport genes and downregulated lipid synthesis.