Effect of plant proteins and crystalline amino acid supplementation on postprandial plasma amino acid profiles and metabolic response in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss )

The use of aquafeeds formulated with plant protein sources supplemented with crystalline amino acids (CAAs) is believed to influence amino acid (AA) uptake patterns and AA metabolic fate. Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates were measured in rainbow trout (468.5 ± 86.5 g) force fed 0.75 % of their body mass with a diet based on either (1) fish meal (FM), (2) pea protein concentrate (PPC), or (3) pea protein concentrate supplemented with histidine, lysine, methionine and threonine (PPC+) to mimic FM AA profile. The specific dynamic action and nitrogen quotient (NQ) were calculated for 48 h of the postprandial period. In parallel, plasma AA concentrations were measured in blood samples withdrawn from the caudal vein before and then 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 20, 32 and 48 h after feed administration. The unbalanced diet PPC had a significantly higher NQ compared to FM (0.29 ± 0.09 and 0.18 ± 0.04, respectively), and plasma profiles of essential AAs reflected the dietary deficiencies. Supplementation with CAA in diet PPC+ resulted in an intermediary NQ (0.21 ± 0.04) and significantly affected plasma AA profiles, presenting greater and faster rises followed by sharp decreases compared to FM. The strongest effect was observed for methionine, presenting threefold higher concentrations at peak time for PPC+ compared to FM (297.0 ± 77.0 and 131.8 ± 39.0 nmol ml −1 , respectively). The differences in AA availability and metabolic profile in the pea diets compared to the FM diet were believed to be caused by an unbalanced dietary AA profile and CAA supplementation, rather than inclusion of plant protein concentrate.