Vitamins C and E interact in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.)

A two way regression study was performed to investigate the interactions between vitamins C and E, and the influence of dietary vitamin C on the development of vitamin E deficiency in first feeding Atlantic salmon. The fish were fed three levels of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (0, 150, and 300 mg/kg), each with six levels of ascorbate monophosphate (0, 7.5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg ascorbic acid equivalents). Vitamin C protected the fish against vitamin E deficiency in a dose dependent manner, as seen from the data on growth, mortality, hematology, and lipid oxidation in the liver, indicated by the concentration of malondialdehyde. Vitamin C did not influence the tissue levels of vitamin E, except in vitamin C deficiency, which induced a large drop in liver vitamin E concentration. The liver level of vitamin C increased in response to supplementation of both vitamins. The results indicate two different interaction mechanisms: a synergistic effect of simultaneous protection of the water and lipid phases against oxidation, and regeneration of vitamin E from the vitamin E radical by ascorbic acid.