Pigmentation of salmonids: Factors affecting carotenoid deposition in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Abstract

Factors affecting carotenoid deposition in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were investigated in three feeding experiments. The deposition of astaxanthin in the flesh increased significantly with increasing levels of astaxanthin in the diet decreased the ratios of astaxanthin in flesh to astaxanthin in diet. Fish size, dietary fat quality and vitamin E supplementation seemed to have no effect on the astaxanthin deposition. Depletion of the amount of astaxanthin in the flesh suggests metabolization of deposited astaxanthin.