Effects of various dietary carotenoid pigments on fillet appearance and pigment absorption in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

A study was conducted to evaluate effects of various carotenoids on skin and fillet coloration and fillet carotenoid concentration in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. For 12 wk, juvenile catfish were fed one of six experimental diets containing no supplemental carotenoid or 100 mg/kg of one of following carotenoid additions: beta-carotene (BCA), lutein (LUT), zeaxanthin (ZEA), canthaxanthin (CAN), and astaxanthin (AST). Visual yellow color intensity score was highest for fish fed LUT, followed by ZEA, AST, and CAN, and lowest for fish fed basal and BCA diets. Skin and tissue Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage yellowness value was the highest in fish fed LUT, followed by fish fed ZEA, AST, and CAN, and lowest for fish fed basal and BCA diets. Fish accumulated the supplemental carotenoids in muscle tissues, but concentrations of different carotenoids in the tissue varied greatly. Approximately 30% of the LUT added was converted to echineone; no conversion was observed among other supplemental carotenoids. Results from the present study indicate that channel catfish can accumulate yellow pigments LUT and ZEA and red or pink pigments CAN and AST in the flesh, resulting in yellow coloration. The yellow pigment BCA does not appear to deposit in skin or flesh at levels sufficient to alter the coloration.