Vitamin D3 Improves Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activity, Antioxidant Capacity, Lipid Metabolism, Histomorphology, Ca and P Homeostasis and Ammonia Stress Resistance in Pacific White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei).

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of dietary vitamin D₃ (VD₃) levels on growth, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activity, histomorphology and ammonia stress resistance in Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) post-larvae. Shrimp were fed eight diets containing 0.2, 30.6, 74.0, 164, 278, 553, 1,128 and 2,491 μg/kg of VD₃ for 34 days. Shrimp fed VD164 and VD278 diets exhibited significantly higher growth, feed efficiency and ammonia stress resistance compared to the control (P < 0.05). Carapace calcium levels increased in shrimp fed VD₃ ≥ 30.6 μg/kg, and phosphorus in those fed ≥ 278 μg/kg (P < 0.05). Trypsin and lipase activities were elevated in all VD₃ groups except VD2491 group (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were higher in VD278 and VD553 groups compared to the control (P < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed increased B and F cell counts, and reduced lipid droplets in the hepatopancreas of all VD₃ groups (P < 0.05). Midgut villi were significantly longer in all VD₃ groups, except VD30.6, and muscle thickness increased in all treatment groups (P < 0.05). VD278 upregulated expression of vitamin D receptor and genes related to lipid metabolism, indicating enhanced lipid utilization. A quadratic-plateau regression model estimated the optimal dietary VD₃ level for weight gain at 186.03 μg/kg. In conclusion, dietary VD₃ supplementation enhances growth, feed efficiency and ammonia stress resistance in P. vannamei by enhancing digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, lipid metabolism and tissue morphology.