Effects of supplemental ferulic acid (FA) on survival, growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) larvae

A 30-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental ferulic acid (FA) on survival, growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism of the large yellow croaker larvae (initial weight: 2.58 ± 0.30 mg). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic micro-diets were formulated with graded levels of FA (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) and fed to the experimental larvae seven times daily. Results showed that larvae fed the diet with 40 mg/kg FA had significantly higher survival rate, while the specific growth rate was higher in larvae fed diets with 40 and 80 mg/kg FA than the control group ( P