How a Plant-Rich Diet Affects Gut Health and Metabolism at Different Life Stages

Jim Crocker
2nd July, 2024

How a Plant-Rich Diet Affects Gut Health and Metabolism at Different Life Stages

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study took place at the University of Aberdeen and focused on the impact of plant-based diets on the gut microbiota of Atlantic salmon
  • Atlantic salmon fed a plant-based diet early in life showed similar growth performance to those fed a marine-based diet
  • The plant-based diet caused lasting changes in the gut microbiota, even when fish were later fed a marine-based diet
The University of Aberdeen recently conducted a study[1] to promote sustainable aquaculture by investigating the impact of plant-based diets on the gut microbiota of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). This study is particularly relevant as the aquaculture industry has been shifting from marine-based feed ingredients to plant-based alternatives to reduce its ecological footprint[2][3][4]. However, there is limited knowledge about how such plant-based diets affect the gut microbiota of fish, especially from the early stages of life. Atlantic salmon were introduced to a plant-based diet (V fish) during their first feeding for a brief period of two weeks, known as the stimulus phase. This approach, called nutritional programming (NP), aims to expose fish to plant ingredients early in life to promote the full utilization of these ingredients and mitigate any adverse effects later. The study compared these V fish to fish fed a traditional marine-based diet (M fish) to assess the long-term impact on growth performance and gut microbiota. Results showed that V fish maintained growth performance comparable to M fish at both 16 weeks (intermediate phase) and 22 weeks (challenge phase) post first feeding. This finding aligns with previous studies indicating that plant-based diets can be effective in aquaculture[4][5]. However, the study also revealed significant differences in gut microbiota between the two groups. Using PERMANOVA general effects, the researchers found that the gut microbiota of V fish differed from that of M fish across all phases. Interestingly, the V diet had a lasting impact on the gut microbiota, even when both groups were fed the M diet at 16 weeks post first feeding. One notable observation was that microbial metabolic reactions related to amino acid metabolism were higher in M fish compared to V fish at two weeks post first feeding. This suggests that the gut microbiota in M fish played a crucial role in digesting the essential amino acids present in the marine-based feed. Conversely, V fish exhibited excessive mucin O-degradation at two weeks, which was alleviated in later life stages, indicating a physiological adaptability to the plant-based diet. The study's findings contribute to the growing body of research on sustainable aquaculture. Previous studies have highlighted the industry's shift towards crop-based feed ingredients like soy to replace wild fish, linking seafood production to terrestrial agriculture[4]. This shift has raised concerns about the environmental and health implications of using industrial crop production for aquaculture feed. The current study builds on this by demonstrating that early exposure to plant-based diets can modulate gut microbiota and support growth performance in Atlantic salmon, potentially reducing the reliance on marine ingredients. Moreover, the study underscores the importance of understanding the gut microbiota's role in fish nutrition and health. The researchers suggest that future studies should explore how the microbiota functionally contributes to nutritional programming, which could further enhance the sustainability of aquaculture practices. In conclusion, the University of Aberdeen's study provides valuable insights into the long-term effects of plant-based diets on the gut microbiota of Atlantic salmon. By demonstrating that early exposure to plant ingredients can sustain growth performance and modulate gut microbiota, this research supports the ongoing transition towards more sustainable aquaculture practices.

NutritionHealthMarine Biology

References

Main Study

1) Modulation of gut microbiota composition and predicted metabolic capacity after nutritional programming with a plant-rich diet in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): insights across developmental stages

Published 1st July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-024-00321-8

Related Studies

2) Feeding aquaculture in an era of finite resources.

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0905235106

3) A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03308-6

4) Environmental health impacts of feeding crops to farmed fish.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.02.022

5) Replacing fishmeal with plant protein in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets by supplementation with fish protein hydrolysate.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60325-7


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