ASCORBATE-2-SULFATE AS A DIETARY VITAMIN-C SOURCE FOR ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO-SALAR) .1. GROWTH, BIOACTIVITY, HEMATOLOGY AND HUMORAL IMMUNE-RESPONSE

The present experiment shows that ascorbate-2-sulfate (AS) is not equivalent to ascorbic acid (AA) as a dietary vitamin C source for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Within reasonable feed supplemental levels AS does not provide the tissues with adequate supplies of vitamin C to secure optimal physiological functions as demonstrated by biochemical and haematological analyses. AS could not be detected in the liver of fish fed either AA or AS, nor in vitamin C - deprived salmon, suggesting that AS is not the natural storage form of vitamin C in this species. There were no significant differences in antibody production against a soluble artificial antigen (NIP11-LPH) in fish fed 500 and 5000 mg AA/Kg dry diet or equivalent amounts of AS during a period of six weeks at a water temperature of 7.2°C. © 1990 Kugler Publications.