Dietary creatine enhanced the performance, antioxidant and immunity biomarkers of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (B.), fed high plant-based diets

The current study determined the response of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to plant-based diets fortified with creatine as regards growth, biochemical, antioxidant and immune profiles. Fish (10.4 +/- 0.6 g) were fed with diets supplemented with creatine [0 (control), 10, 20, 30 or 40 g/kg diet] for 84 days. A significantly improved growth performance (p < 0.05) was observed as dietary creatine levels increased up to 30 and 40 g/kg diet with no significant difference between them. However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in feed conversion ratio and fish survival in all treatments. Protein and creatine levels in fish muscles significantly increased alongside with significant reductions in moisture and lipid contents due to the increase in dietary creatine levels. Also, fish fed with creatine-enriched diets had significantly (p < 0.05) elevated serum total protein, albumin and globulin than the fish fed the control diet but blood glucose was not significantly differed (p > 0.05). In fish fed creatine-enriched diets, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, urea and creatinine were greatly (p < 0.05) reduced when compared with the control group. Furthermore, antioxidant (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and immunity (lysozyme and respiratory burst activity) biomarkers were markedly (p < 0.05) promoted in fish fed with creatine-based diets. The current study recommended that dietary creatine should be added to plant-based diets with an optimum value of 30 g/kg diet to evoke the performance, biochemical, antioxidants and immunity profiles of African catfish.