ABSTRACT
The bioavailability of trace elements in fishmeal diets is influenced by their chemical forms and dietary anti-nutritional factors. In formulated fish feed, supplemented organically bound minerals may be more bioavailable than inorganic minerals. A 10-week feeding trial was undertaken with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to determine whether the inclusion of organically bound selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) improved uptake and assimilation of these elements compared to commonly used inorganic forms. The three diets tested included a control diet, no added Zn or Se; an organic Se-yeast and Zn-proteinate supplemented diet; and an inorganic sodium selenite and Zn-sulphate supplemented diet. The endpoints tested were apparent digestibility, whole body levels, tissue distribution and Se- and Zn-dependent enzyme activities. Digestibility of residual Se in the basal diet was 54.2 +/- 1.0% and supplemented Se-yeast was significantly more digestible than selenite (p < 0.05). Digestibility of residual Zn was 21.9 +/- 2.0% and no significant difference was found between the treatments (p = 0.89). Whole body Se was raised by both Se sources and to a greatest extent by Se-yeast (p < 0.001). Zn-sulphate, and to a lesser extent Zn-proteinate, both raised whole body Zn (p < 0.05). Dietary Zn in the basal diet was found to be above requirements, yet Zn-sulphate had a significantly greater retention than Zn-proteinate in those tissues that responded to Zn supplementation. Se-yeast significantly raised Se in all tissues to a greater extent than selenite, except in the pyloric caeca and liver where the greatest increases were by selenite. Only Se-yeast elevated Se-dependent thioredoxin reductase activity (p < 0.05) and neither forms of Se affected glutathione peroxidise activity (p = 0.059). Alkaline phosphatase and carboxypeptidase B were not affected by Zn supplementation (p = 0.51 and p = 0.88 respectively). In all aspects, Se-yeast was found to be a highly bioavailable form of Se in comparison to selenite. Because of its superior bioavailability, organically bound Se would be a preferred Se source for supplementation of fishmeal trout diets than selenite.