Tributyrin supplementation in fish and crustacean nutrition: A review

Abstract

Short-chain fatty acids, including butyrate and its derived forms, have been used as dietary supplements to reverse or ameliorate the potential negative effects of plantderived ingredients in aquaculture diets, and have a multitude of well-demonstrated physiological and health enhancing effects in mammals and livestock. Tributyrin, a butyric acid derivate, has been assessed as a supplement in the diets of farmed animals, with promising results in several species. In fish and crustaceans, the dietary inclusion of tributyrin is more recent and has been less studied but results suggest that it may be highly advantageous for aquatic animals. This is particularly important for carnivorous species, whose diets need to be optimised towards the reduction of the fishmeal content to enhance the environmental and economical sustainability of the sector. The present work characterises tributyrin and presents the main results of its use as a dietary source of butyric acid in feeds for aquatic species. The main focus is given to aquaculture species and how tributyrin, as a feed supplement, can contribute to optimising plant-based aquafeeds.

Effects of tributyrin on the growth performance, survival, tolerance to hypoxic stress, and nutrient digestibility of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, fed different levels of soybean meal

“…The fact that dietary tributyrin or butyrate was capable to suppress the Vibrio spp. growth in the hepatopancreas and intestine of the shrimp while the ability to improve the apparent nutrient digestibility was either weak (this study) or inconsistent (Yarahmadi et al, 2022) support the antimicrobial hypothesis over the nutrient utilization enhancement hypothesis as a major mode of actions of tributyrin or butyrate in promoting the shrimp's health (Lückstädt & Mellor, 2011;Ng & Koh, 2017;Palma et al, 2023).…”

“…SCFAs are carboxylic acids with fewer than six carbon atoms and are naturally produced by microbial fermentation (anaerobic metabolism) of the dietary fibers (indigestible carbohydrates) in the colon or posterior region of the intestine (Tran et al, 2020). Acetate (C2), propionate (C3), and butyrate (C4) are the main SCFAs found in the digestive tracts of humans (Palma et al, 2023), fish (Tran et al, 2020), and shrimp (Gao et al, 2019). These organic acids are the main energy source for the gut epithelium and can enhance the growth of intestinal epithelial cells (Hoseinifar et al, 2017; Ng & Koh, 2017).…”

“…Butyric acid is among the most studied SCFAs in fish and shrimp (Abdel‐Latif et al, 2020; Hoseinifar et al, 2017; Palma et al, 2023). However, free organic acids possess many undesirable characteristics including high volatility, unpleasant odor, corrosiveness (which can damage the machine and workers), and significant absorption in the upper digestive tract (Abdel‐Latif et al, 2020; Ng & Koh, 2017; Palma et al, 2023; Papatsiros & Billinis, 2012).…”

“…Butyric acid is among the most studied SCFAs in fish and shrimp (Abdel‐Latif et al, 2020; Hoseinifar et al, 2017; Palma et al, 2023). However, free organic acids possess many undesirable characteristics including high volatility, unpleasant odor, corrosiveness (which can damage the machine and workers), and significant absorption in the upper digestive tract (Abdel‐Latif et al, 2020; Ng & Koh, 2017; Palma et al, 2023; Papatsiros & Billinis, 2012). To overcome these problems, butyric acid is commonly used in its derivative forms, particularly in the forms of sodium butyrate and butyrins (butyrate glycerides), which are more stable, less corrosive, and easier to handle (Abdel‐Latif et al, 2020; Palma et al, 2023).…”

“…One molecule of glycerol that is esterified with one, two, and three molecules of butyric acid are called monobutyrin, dibutyrin, and tributyrin, respectively. When butyrins reach the intestine, the butyrate molecules are released from butyrins by lipase enzyme and can be absorbed mainly in the posterior intestine where they are serving as an energy source for the gut epithelium as well as exerting health‐promoting effects (Górka et al, 2018; Palma et al, 2023). Unlike sodium butyrate, which is a water‐soluble salt of butyric acid, tributyrin is water‐insoluble and less prone to leaching when top‐coating onto the pellet feed.…”