Nutrients play a crucial role in the growth, development, and overall health of fishes. Different nutrients serve specific functions, and their deficiencies can have detrimental effects on fish health and well-being. Here are some important nutrients and their roles, along with the consequences of their deficiencies in fishes: 1. Proteins: Proteins are essential for fish growth, tissue repair, enzyme production, and maintaining proper body functions. A deficiency in dietary proteins can lead to stunted growth, weakened immune system, and reduced reproductive performance in fishes. 2. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are a vital energy source for fishes. They provide readily available energy for metabolic processes. While fishes have a relatively low carbohydrate requirement, a deficiency can result in reduced growth rates, decreased activity, and compromised immune function. 3. Fats: Fats, including essential fatty acids, are important for energy storage, insulation, buoyancy control, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Insufficient fat intake can lead to poor growth, weakened immune response, and abnormal cell function in fishes. 4. Vitamins: Vitamins are necessary for various physiological functions, such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and maintaining a healthy immune system. Deficiencies in specific vitamins can cause a range of problems, including poor growth, skeletal deformities, reduced reproductive success, and increased susceptibility to diseases. 5. Minerals: Minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and trace elements like iron, zinc, and copper, are critical for skeletal development, Osmoregulation, enzyme activation, and maintaining proper physiological balance in fishes. Mineral deficiencies can result in skeletal deformities, impaired growth, weakened immune system, and reduced reproductive performance. 6. Water: While not a nutrient, water is vital for fish survival. Fishes require clean and oxygenated water to maintain osmotic balance, eliminate waste products, and facilitate various metabolic processes. Inadequate water quality or availability can lead to stress, compromised immune function, and overall poor health. It is important to note that the specific nutrient requirements and consequences of deficiencies can vary among fish species. Environmental factors, feeding habits, and life stages also influence nutrient requirements. Providing a balanced and appropriate diet tailored to the specific needs of the fish species is crucial to prevent nutrient deficiencies and promote optimal health. Regular monitoring and adjustment of the diet, water quality, and overall husbandry practices are essential for maintaining healthy fish populations.

1. ROLE OF NUTRIENTS AND IT'S
DEFICIENCY IN FISH
Vishal Solanki
MFSC 1ST Year

2. NUTRITION
Nutrition is the science that interprets the nutrients and other substances in food
in relation to the maintenance, growth, reproduction, health, and disease of an
organism
It includes ingestion, catabolism, absorption, assimilation, biosynthesis, and
excretion
Good nutrition in animal production systems is essential to the economical
production of a healthy, high-quality product. In fish farming (aquaculture),
nutrition is critical because feed typically represents approximately 50 percent of
the variable production cost

3. TYPES OF NUTRIENTS
Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids (fat), vitamins,and minerals are distinct nutrient
groups that the body metabolises to produce the energy it needs for numerous
physiological processes and physical activities
In terms of energy density, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids have average
caloric values of 5.65, 4.15 and 9.45 kilocalories per gram (kcal/g), respectively

4. PROTEINS
Proteins consist of various amino acids, the composition of which gives
individual proteins their unique characteristics
Many of the biochemicals required for normal bodily functions are proteins, such
as enzymes, hormones, and immunoglobulins. Like other animals, fish
synthesize body proteins from amino acids in the diet and other sources

5. ROLE OF PROTEIN
To repair worn or wasted tissue (tissue repair and maintenance) and to rebuild new
tissue (as new protein and growth)
Dietary protein may be catabolized as a source of energy, or may serve as a
substrate for the formation of tissue carbohydrates or lipids
Dietary protein is required within the animal body for the formation of hormones,
enzymes and a wide variety of other biologically important substances such as
antibodies and haemoglobin

6. PROTEIN DEFICIENCY:
The growth and the maintenance of the health of fish depend on the content and
quality of protein in the feed
This dependence becomes more significant when fish are subject to more
unfavorable environmental conditions
The harmful effects of high stock densities, pollutants in the water oxygen
deficiency, and stress situations due to baths for protection against or control of
diseases soon, can be well tolerated by fish when fed on diets containing the
requisite quantity and quality of protein
Also protein is important for the growth of fish and ensures the formation and
activity of essential enzymes and hormones

7. CONT...
The most common signs of protein and/or amino acid deficiency in fish are;
1. Reduction of growth rate
2. Mortality
3. Scoliosis and Lordosis
4. Anemia (Reduction of RBCs)

8. AMINO ACID
Although over 100 different amino acids have been isolated from biological
materials, only 25 of these are commonly found in proteins
For nutritional purposes, amino acids are divided into two groups;
Essential amino acids (EAA) are those amino acids that cannot be synthesized
within the animal body or at a rate sufficient to meet the physiological needs of the
growing animal, and must therefore be supplied in a ready-made form in the diet
Non-essential amino acids (NEAA) are those amino acids that can be synthesized
in the body they perform many essential functions at the cellular or metabolic
level

9. CONT..

10. ROLE OF AMINO ACID
 Amino acids occupy a central position in cellular metabolism since almost all
biochemical reactions are catalyzed by enzymes composed of amino acid
residues
Amino acids are essential for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, for the
synthesis of tissue proteins and many important compounds (ie. adrenalin,
thyroxine, melanin, histamine, porphyrins - hemoglobin, pyrimidines, and
purines - nucleic acids, choline, folic acid and nicotinic acid - vitamins, taurine -
bile salts etc.), and as a metabolic source of energy or fuel

11. ESSENTIALAMINO ACIDS DEFICIENCY
Lysine:- (Salmo gairdneri, Oncorhynchus mykiss)Dorsal/caudal fin erosions;
increased mortality,(Cyprinus carpio) Increased mortality
Methionine:- (O. mykiss, Salmo salar)Cataract
Tryptophan:- (S. gairdneri) Scoliosis, lordosis, renal calcinosis, cataract, caudal
fin erosion, decreased carcass lipid content, elevated Ca, Mg, Na, and K carcass
concentration (Oncorhynchus nerka)Scoliosis
Miscellaneous:- (O. keta) Scoliosis/ lordosis,(C. carpio) Increased mortality and
incidence of lordosis observed with dietary deficit –ties of leucine, isoleucine,
lysine, arginine, and histidine

12. CONT..
Toxic amino acids;
Nutritional pathologies may arise from the consumption of feed proteins
containing toxic amino acids or their derivatives
Feed proteins containing toxic amino acids which have been reported to have a
negative effect on fish growth and feed efficiency (including eventual fish death)
include the plant legumes Leucaena leucocephala (toxic nonprotein amino acid -
mimosine) and Sesbania grandiflora and Canavalia ensiformis (toxic amino acid -
L-canavanine)

13. LIPID
The lipids are a heterogeneous group of substances found in plant and animal
tissues, which share the property of being relatively insoluble in water, and
soluble in organic solvents, such as ether, chloroform, and benzene
Lipids are important sources of metabolic energy (ATP). In fact, the lipids are the
most energy-rich of all classes of nutrients
In particular, free fatty acids derived from triglycerides (fats and oils) are the
major aerobic fuel source for the energy metabolism of fish muscle

14. ROLE OF LIPID
Lipids are essential components of all cellular and subcellular membranes
Lipids serve as biological carriers for the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins
A, D, E, and K
Lipids are a source of essential fatty acids, which in turn are essential for the
maintenance and integrity of cellular membranes, are required for optimal lipid
transport (bound to phospholipids as emulsifying agents), and are precursors of
the prostaglandin hormones

15. CONT..
 Lipids are believed to play a role as a mechanical cushion/support for the vital
body organs, and aid in the maintenance of neutral buoyancy
Lipids are a source of essential steroids, which in turn perform a wide range of
important biological functions (ie. the sterol cholesterol is involved in the
maintenance of membrane systems, for lipid transport, and as a precursor of
vitamin D3, the bile acids, and the steroid hormones - androgens, estrogens,
adrenal hormones, and corticosteroids)
From a feed technology viewpoint, lipids act as lubricants for the passage of feed
through pellet dies, as substances that reduce the dustiness of feeds, and play a
role in feed palatability

16. DEFICIENCIES OF LIPID
Poor food efficiency, susceptibility to caudal fin erosion, elevated muscle water
content, shock syndrome, swollen pale fatty liver, decreased hemoglobin, and blood
cell volume, degeneration of gill epithelium, etc. are some of the deficiency
syndromes
EPA and DHA are very important for larvae and Broodstock development
EPA and DHA deficiency in Broodstock lead to reduced egg quality, poor
hatchability, and reduced survival of larvae
Auto-oxidation of UFAs leads to morbid changes in the liver
Fin erosion, loss of pigmentation, fatty infiltration of the liver, cardiac myopathy, and
shock syndrome are some of the deficiency signs of Linolenic acid

17. TOXIC NON-ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Cyclopropenoic acid is a toxic fatty acid found in the lipid fraction of cottonseed
products
 Experimentally, cyclopropene acid has been shown to reduce the growth rate in
rainbow trout and to act as a potent synergist for the carcinogenicity of aflatoxins
Other pathologies observed with trout include extreme liver damage (liver is pale
in color) with increased glycogen deposition and decreased protein content and a
decrease in the activity of several key enzymes

18. CARBOHYDRATES
After the proteins and lipids, carbohydrates represent the third most abundant group
of organic compounds in the animal body
By contrast, carbohydrates constitute the major class of organic nutrients within plant
tissues
The carbohydrate group includes such important compounds as glucose, fructose,
sucrose, lactose, starch, glycogen, chitin, and cellulose
Within man and terrestrial farm animals dietary carbohydrates serve as the principal
source of metabolic energy (ATP). This reaction can be represented as;
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 38 ATP1

19. ROLE OF CARBOHYDRATES
In fish and shrimp no absolute dietary requirement for carbohydrates has been
established to date
They represent an inexpensive source of valuable dietary energy for
noncarnivorous fish and shrimp species
Their careful use in practical diets can spare more valuable protein for growth
instead of energy provision (a procedure called ‘protein sparing)
mucopolysaccharide mucous secretions

20. DEFICIENCIES OF CARBOHYDRATES
Generally, the deficiency of carbohydrates results in growth retardation due to
gluconeogenesis
 Sekoke disease is one of the common diseases related to Carbohydrate
It is also called Spontaneous Diabetes in carp which are fed with extremely high
starch. It was reported in Japan. So, elimination of the excess amount of starch
from the diets can prevent this disease

21. VITAMINS
Vitamins are a heterogeneous group of organic compounds essential for the
growth and maintenance of animal life
The majority of vitamins are not synthesized by the animal body or at a rate
sufficient to meet the animal’s needs. They are present in very small quantities
within animal and plant foodstuffs and are required by the animal body in trace
amounts
Approximately 15 vitamins have been isolated from biological materials; their
essentiality depends on the animal species, the growth rate of the animal, feed
composition, and the bacterial synthesizing capacity of the gastrointestinal tract
of the animal

22. ROLLE OF VITAMINS
1. Water-Soluble Vitamins
Thiamine-involved in carbohydrate metabolism
Riboflavin – important for the respiration of poorly vascularized tissues such as
the cornea of the eye, essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins
Pyridoxine – plays a vital role in protein metabolism
Pantothenic acid – a key substance in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.
functions as a coenzyme which plays a central role in all acetylation reactions
 Nicotinic acid - as a constituent of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP),

23. CONT..
functions as a coenzyme in enzyme systems that provide a mechanism
for electron transfer in metabolic processes
Biotin - functions as a coenzyme in those tissue reactions involving the transfer
of carbon dioxide from one compound to another.
Folic acid - coenzyme for those reactions effecting the transfer of one-carbon
units from one compound to another.
Cyanocobalamin - the form of cobamide coenzymes, is required for normal red
blood cell formation and the maintenance of nerve tissue.
Inositol- play an important role in the growth of liver and bone marrow cells,
liver lipid (cholesterol) transport, and in the synthesis of RNA.

24. CONT..
Choline - plays a vital role in the maintenance of cell structure and the
transmission of nerve impulses respectively.
 Ascorbic acid - therefore plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of
connective tissue, blood vessels, bone tissue, and wound tissue.
2. Fat-soluble vitamins
Retinol - required for normal vision; in the retina of the eye. Maintenance of the
mucous-secreting epithelial tissues of the reproductive tract, skin, bone, and
gastrointestinal tract.

25. CONT...
 Cholecalciferol - plays an essential role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in
animals.
Tocopherols - act as lipid-soluble extracellular and intracellular antioxidants within
the animal body.
 Phylloquinone - faintenance of normal blood coagulation by facilitating the
production and/or release of various plasma proteins required for blood coagulation,
including; prothrombin, proconvertin, plasma thromboplastin, and the Stuart-Prower
factor.

26. DEFICIENCIES OF VITAMINS
Thiamine- Anorexia, poor appetite, muscle atrophy, loss of equilibrium, poor growth,
congestion of fins and skin, fading of body color, lethargy
Riboflavin- Eye and skin hemorrhage, photophobia, pigmentation of iris, striated
constrictions of abdominal wall, dark coloration, appetite, anemia, poor growth, in skin and
fins
Pyridoxine- Nervous disorders, hyper-irritability, anemia, loss of appetite, rapid rigor
mortis, peritoneal edema cavity, colorless serous fluid, rapid breathing, exophthalmia
Pantothenic acid- Clubbed gills, necrosis, cellular atrophy of gills, gill exudate, loss of
appetite, lethargy, poor growth, skin hemorrhage, skin lesions, and deformities
Niacin- Poor growth, anorexia, lethargy, and mortality

27. CONT..
Inositol- Distended stomach, increased gastric emptying time, skin lesions, de-
pigmentation, and poor growth
Biotin- Loss of appetite, lesions in the colon, altered coloration, muscle atrophy, spastic
convulsions and fragmentation of erythrocytes, skin lesions, and poor growth
Folic acid- Lethargy, the fragility of the caudal fin, dark coloration, macrocytic anemia,
poor growth
Choline- Poor food conversion, hemorrhagic kidney and intestine, poor growth,
accumulation of neutral fat in hepatopancreas, enlarged liver
Nicotinic acid- Loss of appetite, lesions in the colon, jerky motion, weakness, edema,
muscle spasms while resting, sensitivity to sunlight, poor growth, skin hemorrhage,
lethargy, and anemia

28. CONT..
Choline- Poor appetite, low hemoglobin, fragmentation of erythrocytes, macrocytic anemia, reduced
growth
Ascorbic acid - Impaired collagen formation, eye lesions, anorexia, hemorrhagic skin, liver, kidney, and
muscle, reduced growth, dark coloration, loss of balance, fin necrosis, high mortality
Retinol- Ascites, ceroid in liver, spleen, and kidney, anemia, the fragility of red blood cells, poor growth,
exophthalmia, kidney hemorrhages, depigmentation, and soft exoskeleton
Cholecalciferol- Poor feed utilization, raised blood counts, slow growth rate, decreased ash levels,
calcium and phosphorous, poor growth, soft exoskeleton, lethargy
Tocopherols- Muscular dystrophy, a pathological condition in reproductive organs, increased
permeability of capillaries, hemorrhages, and edema in various parts of the body
Phylloquinone- Anemia, prolonged coagulation time

29. MINERALS
With the exception of the organically bound elements hydrogen, carbon,
nitrogen, and oxygen, there are about 20 or so inorganic mineral elements that
are considered to be essential to fish and shrimp
Minerals are essential constituents of skeletal structures such as bones and teeth
Minerals play a key role in the maintenance of osmotic pressure and thus
regulate the exchange of water and solutes within the animal body
Minerals serve as structural constituents of soft tissues

30. ROLE OF MINERALS
Minerals are essential constitutents of skeletal structures such as bones and teeth.
Minerals play a key role in the maintenance of osmotic pressure, and thus regulate
the exchange of water and solutes within the animal body.
Minerals serve as structural constituents of soft tissues.
Minerals are essential for the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle
contraction.
Minerals play a vital role in the acid-base equilibrium of the body, and thus
regulate the pH of the blood and other body fluids.
Minerals serve as essential components of many enzymes, vitamins, hormones,
and respiratory pigments, or as cofactors in metabolism, catalysts and enzyme
activators.

31. CONT..
Calcium and Phosphorous - Bone formation, blood clotting, supply high energy
phosphorus compounds and the components of crustacean exoskeleton
 Magnesium – Acta as an Enzyme cofactor, involved in the Loss of appetite, poor
fat metabolism
Iron - Essential constituent of hemoglobin, myoglobin, Cytochromes and
peroxidases
Manganese – Bone formation, arginase cofactor, and involved in erythrocyte
regeneration
Iodine – Regulate total oxygen use and integral component of the thyroid
hormones, thyroxine, and tri-iodo-thyronine

32. DEFICIENCIES OF MINERALS
Calcium and Phosphorous - Slow growth rate and increased mortalities,
scoliosis, lordosis, and skull deformities
Magnesium - Lordosis, poor growth and protein growth, tetany
 Iron - Microcytic Homochronic anemia
Manganese - Sluggish movement, loss of equilibrium, poor appetite, weight loss,
and mortality
Iodine - Thyroid, Hyperplasia (goiter)

33. REFERENCE
• 1-Principles of fish nutrition - https://thefishsite.com/articles/principles-of-fish-
nutrition
• 2-Understanding Fish Nutrition, Feeds, and Feeding - Aquaculture -
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://fisheries.tamu.e
du/files/2019/01/FST-269 pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiaqJuN4 aTuAhUG4jgG HZ
G6DWcQFjABegQIBhAF&usg=AOvVaw0hEgrXhIdSeuaXV8X3TpZP
• 3 - Nutrition and feeding of farmed fish and shrimp - a training manual 1. The
essential nutrients - http://www.Fao.Org/3/ab470e/AB470E02.Htm

34. CONT..
• 4 - Nutrition - Wikipedia - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutrition
• 5 - Nutritional deficiencies - FAO - http://www.fao.org/fishery/affris/species-
profiles/nile-tilapia/nutritional-deficiencies/en/
• 6 - Fish Diseases -
http://www.aun.edu.eg/developmentvet/fish%20diseases/6_0.htm
• 7 www.fao.org, Nutritional fish pathology -
http://www.fao.org/3/t0700e/T0700E02.htm#ch2.2

35. CONT..
• 8 - www.actascientific.com › pdfPDF Web results, Nutritional, Diseases of Fish in
Aquaculture and ... - Acta Scientific -
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.actascient
ific.com/ASPS/pdf/ASPS-02-0171 pdf&ved=2 ahUKE
winwJ2V_qruAhXBjOYKHVULAZ8QFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2bwVod
VUlIldITjwvucny3&cshid=1611163289667

36. THANK YOU...