Assessing the bioavailability of L-methionine and a methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA-Ca) compared to DL-methionine in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Different synthetic forms of supplemental methionine (Met) are produced commercially by various manufacturers. Limited information exists on the bioavailability of these different forms in commercially relevant fish species. The objective of this study was to compare the relative bioavailability of L-methionine and a methionine hydroxy analogue calcium salt (MHA-Ca) to DL-methionine in a commercially relevant species, rainbow trout, using a linear slope-ratio assay. In addition, the ability of the rainbow trout to effectively convert the D-isomer of methionine into the biologically active L-isomer was studied by comparing the relative bioavailability of L-methionine to DL-methionine. Nine (9) diets were created from a methionine-deficient basal diet which was supplemented with graded equimolar levels of methionine (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% of diet by weight) from either DL-methionine, L-methionine and methionine hydroxy analogue calcium salt (MHA-Ca). Diets were fed in triplicate (IBW=24.0 +/- 0.6g) for 12weeks using a pair-feeding protocol. The basal diet was formulated to be deficient in both methionine (0.5%) and cysteine (0.3%), whereas meeting all other known nutritional requirements of rainbow trout. MHA-Ca was found to be less available (P<0.05) than DL-methionine with relative bioavailability values of 69%, 60% and 73% based upon weight gain, growth rate (TGC) and retained nitrogen values respectively. No significant differences (P>0.05) in bioavailability were found between DL-methionine and L-methionine. These findings lead to the conclusion that differences in bioavailability do exist between sources of synthetic methionine, additionally findings suggest that rainbow trout are able to effectively convert the D-isomer of methionine into the L-isomer without significantly affecting fish performance.