Short- and long-term effect of feeding with flaxseed meal on biochemical parameters and plasma enzymes in cultured Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

To evaluate the effects of dietary flaxseed meal on biochemical parameters and plasma enzymes in Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii, 32 individuals, 955.06 ± 53.38 g in average weight were selected and randomly distributed in eight 500-L tanks and fed with different levels of dietary flaxseed meal including 0 (control), 50 (F50), 100 (F100) and 150 (F150) g kg-1 diet for 180 days. Biochemical indices and plasma enzymes were determined on the 30th and 180th days. The fish in control group showed significantly higher glucose and cholesterol levels than the other groups. Flaxseed meal exhibited no significant difference in triglyceride, however, triglyceride reduced in all of the flaxseed meal treatments on the 180th day compared to the 30th day. Calcium, total protein, albumin and globulin levels displayed no significant difference in all treatments, while the albumin:globulin ratio increased in control on 180th day compared to 30th day. Alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in F100 and F150 on 180th day. Aspartate aminotransferase decreased in F150 on 30th day and in all the flaxseed meal treatments on 180th day. The highest and lowest levels of lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase activities were found in control and F150 on 180th day, respectively. Results of this study indicate that it is possible to use flaxseed meal in the diet of Siberian sturgeon during the growth period up to 15% without negative effect on plasma enzymes and biochemical parameters.