A screening for optimal selenium enrichment additives for selenium-enriched fish production: Application of a...

Area of Science:

• Aquaculture
• Nutritional Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Selenium deficiency poses a global health concern.
• Fish are a vital source of dietary selenium.
• Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) offer a novel approach to selenium enrichment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of SeNPs in enriching fish with selenium.
• To assess the impact of SeNPs on selenium speciation and antioxidant properties.
• To determine the effects of SeNPs on fish flesh quality.

Main Methods:

• Supplementation of Onychostoma macrolepis with SeNPs.
• Analysis of selenium speciation (selenomethionine, selenocysteine, methylselenocysteine) in fish muscle.
• Assessment of antioxidant capacity in HEK293T cells.
• Evaluation of flesh quality parameters (crude protein, fat, heavy metals, fatty acids).

Main Results:

• SeNPs increased selenomethionine, selenocysteine, and methylselenocysteine content in O. macrolepis muscle.
• Selenium speciation changes in grass carp muscle mirrored O. macrolepis findings.
• SeNPs improved flesh quality by reducing fat and heavy metals, and increasing protein, EPA, DHA, and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio.
• Selenocysteine and methylselenocysteine demonstrated antioxidant activity.

Conclusions:

• SeNPs are bioavailable and effectively enrich fish with selenium.
• SeNPs enhance the antioxidant capacity and nutritional value of fish.
• Selenium-enriched fish produced using SeNPs represent a valuable dietary source for improving human selenium intake and overall health.