Does feed composition affect oxidation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during frozen storage?

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fed a diet containing either fish oil or rapeseed oil and with or without 200 mg/kg carotenoid (either astaxanthin or canthaxanthin). A total of six diets were obtained: (1) fish oil/astaxanthin; (2) vegetable oil/astaxanthin; (3) fish oil/canthaxanthin; (4) vegetable oil/canthaxanthin; (5) fish oil/no pigment; and (6) vegetable oil/no pigment.

The fish were slaughtered and stored in polyethylene bags individually as butterfly fillets for up to 22 months at -20 C. The composition of the fish muscle at slaughter and during frozen storage was evaluated by sampling after 4, 8, 13, 18, and 22 months. The carotenoid content in the muscle was found to be approximately 9-10 mg/kg of fish for both carotenoids.

Primary oxidation lipid products (peroxides) as well as secondary oxidation products (volatiles) were measured. In addition, the level of protein carbonyl groups and the content of tocopherols and carotenoids in the muscle were also measured. To estimate the overall changes in sensory properties of the different samples during storage, a trained sensory panel also evaluated the samples.

Both the sensory panel and the chemical analysis revealed that in this investigation fish fed fish oil were slightly more oxidized than fish fed vegetable oil. Results showed that canthaxanthin effectively protected both protein and lipid against oxidation during frozen storage. In contrast, astaxanthin did not seem to have a clear and systematic effect.

Results indicated that the feed composition influenced the fish muscle composition and subsequently the oxidative stability of the fish during frozen storage. Besides, other constituents in the feed might influence deposition of antioxidants in the tissue and consequently affect the oxidative stability of the muscle.