| A study of astaxanthin bioavailability, retention efficiency and kinetics was carried out using post-juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) held in sea water. In the first experiment, the effect of dietary astaxanthin concentration on the pigments bioavailability and flesh retention efficiency in post-juvenile Atlantic salmon was investigated in a digestibility study. Triplicate groups (mean initial weight of 639) were fed diets that contained 0, 25, 56, or 78 ppm astaxanthin (air-dry basis), for 22 days. Further, all diets contained 0.5% chromic oxide as the indigestible indicator. Feces were collected daily by the column method and at the termination of the experiment by intestinal dissection.;A second experiment was undertaken to investigate kinetics, and compare bioavailability (plasma levels) of astaxanthin in Atlantic salmon following a single 510 μg/kg body weight dose of astaxanthin carried in sesame oil or gelatin and administered via the enteral or intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
