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Italian researchers found that supÂpleÂmentÂing sea bream feed with a 0.08 perÂcent polypheÂnol extract improved the feed conÂverÂsion rate by 30 perÂcent and showed anti-inflamÂmaÂtory and pro-immuÂnity effects. The study, which utiÂlized polypheÂnols extracted from olive milling waste, highÂlights the potenÂtial for the olive indusÂtry to conÂtribute to the cirÂcuÂlar econÂomy and increase susÂtainÂabilÂity in aquaÂculÂture, addressÂing global enviÂronÂmenÂtal conÂcerns and the European Green Deal.
Italian researchers have found that supÂpleÂmentÂing sea bream feed with a 0.08 perÂcent polypheÂnol extract improved the feed conÂverÂsion rate by 30 perÂcent. Anti-inflamÂmaÂtory and pro-immuÂnity effects were also indiÂcated.
The polypheÂnols in quesÂtion, hydroxÂyÂtyÂrosol and tyrosol, were extracted from olive milling waste, makÂing the study another examÂple of the posÂsiÂbilÂiÂties for the olive indusÂtry to conÂtribute to the cirÂcuÂlar econÂomy and increase susÂtainÂabilÂity.
The study, conÂducted by researchers from the Zooprophylactic Experimental Institute of Umbria and Marche and the University of Perugia’s vetÂeriÂnary medÂiÂcine departÂment, was conÂceived to assess the potenÂtial of olive indusÂtry waste prodÂucts as aquaÂculÂtural nutriÂtional supÂpleÂments in the conÂtext of global enviÂronÂmenÂtal conÂcerns and the European Green Deal.
See Also:Olive Milling Byproducts May Improve Animal FeedThe experÂiÂment was conÂducted on 600 giltÂhead sea bream, ranÂdomly assigned to two dietary groups of 300. Each group was then divided into three subÂgroups of 100 fish placed in sepÂaÂrate indoor tanks.
Compared to the conÂtrol group, fish fed with the experÂiÂmenÂtal diet showed a tenÂdency to increase in weight in the interÂmeÂdiÂate phase (117 perÂcent weight gain comÂpared to 82 perÂcent), and a higher weight increase was recorded at the end of the experÂiÂment (177 perÂcent comÂpared to 125 perÂcent).
A sigÂnifÂiÂcant improveÂment in the feed conÂverÂsion ratio was also recorded (1.85 comÂpared to 1.45).
These results sugÂgested that dietary supÂpleÂmenÂtaÂtion with olive-derived polypheÂnols can enhance growth while mainÂtainÂing the fish’s genÂeral health and physÂiÂcal welÂfare.
In addiÂtion, genetic analyÂses showed that fish fed with the polypheÂnol-based supÂpleÂment improved the gene expresÂsion of bioÂmarkÂers related to immuÂnity and metabÂoÂlism.
The researchers parÂticÂuÂlarly noted the reducÂtion in the pro-inflamÂmaÂtory gene interÂleukin 12 beta expresÂsion and an increased expresÂsion of the anti-inflamÂmaÂtory gene interÂleukin 10.
These results tally with preÂviÂous studÂies demonÂstratÂing that plant proÂtein-based diets lower the expresÂsion of varÂiÂous pro-inflamÂmaÂtory markÂers and other genes linked to immune defense.
See Also:Researchers Investigate Olive Powder as Food IngredientIn conÂtrast, aniÂmal proÂtein-based diets, such as fish meal, lead to an increase in gene expresÂsion related to inflamÂmaÂtory mediÂaÂtors tied to regÂuÂlatÂing inflamÂmaÂtion and actiÂvatÂing the natÂural immune response to infecÂtion.
The authors note that the European Union genÂerÂates approxÂiÂmately 88 milÂlion metÂric tons of annual food waste at an estiÂmated cost of €143 bilÂlion, with the majorÂity origÂiÂnatÂing from the food indusÂtry rather than conÂsumers.
This catÂeÂgory of waste mateÂrÂial is responÂsiÂble for eight to ten perÂcent of global emisÂsions and about six perÂcent of the E.U.‘s greenÂhouse gas emisÂsions, polÂluÂtion and waste proÂducÂtion.
Therefore, they sought to apply the cirÂcuÂlar bio-econÂomy and susÂtainÂable farmÂing conÂcepts to aquaÂculÂture.
Extensive research has shown the benÂeÂfiÂcial effects of fish conÂsumpÂtion due to their nutriÂtional proÂfile, which is high in proÂtein, polyunÂsatÂuÂrated fatty acids such as omega‑3, and vitÂaÂmins such as B2 and B6. Fish is an inteÂgral part of the Mediterranean diet and other diets assoÂciÂated with health and longevity.
Aquaculture has been mooted as a susÂtainÂable means of fish proÂducÂtion. It is often conÂtrasted favorÂably with traÂdiÂtional fishÂing and its assoÂciÂated enviÂronÂmenÂtal impacts, parÂticÂuÂlarly over-fishÂing, food-web disÂrupÂtion and bycatch – the inciÂdenÂtal capÂture of non-tarÂget species such as dolÂphins, marine turÂtles and seabirds.
Recent studÂies, howÂever, have raised conÂcerns about potenÂtially harmÂful pracÂtices within the indusÂtry.
Some of the main facÂtors cited are the comÂpoÂsiÂtion, source and perÂforÂmance of feeds. Improving the susÂtainÂabilÂity of this aspect is thereÂfore seen as key to improvÂing the susÂtainÂabilÂity of the indusÂtry as a whole.
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