STABILITY AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF VITAMIN C-GLUCOSE IN CLARIAS HYBRID CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS X CLARIAS MACROCEPHALUS)

J. Khajarern, S. Khajarern-1997

Aquaculture, 151: 219-224

Abstract:

A stable form of vitamin C, ascorbate-glucose, was tested for

stability, bioavailability, safety and efficacy in Clarias hybrid catfish.

Six test diets containing 0 and l00 mg L-ascorbic acid (ASA) and 40,

60, 80 and l00 mg ascorbate vitamin C-glucose (AAG) per kg of diet

were fed to fingerling catfish. Weight gain, feed conversion and

survival of fish on the diet with no added ascorbic acid was

significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of fish fed with vitamin C.

This study indicated that 31-42 mg of ascorbic acid activity or 60-80

mg of AAG per kg of diet was required for rapid growth and 42 mg of

ascorbic acid activity or 80 mg of AAG per kg of diet was required

for good health, better feed conversion and survival and prevention of

deficiency signs.

Ascorbate-glucose appeared to be comparable to ASA on a

molar-equivalency basis and was found to be very stable during

processing, storage and leaching studies.

(Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen

University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand)

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