Effects of dietary yeast β-1.3/1.6-glucans on oxidative stress biomarkers in hearts and livers of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum), European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L.), and grayling (Thymallus thymallus L.)

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary yeast β-1,3/1,6-D-glucans supplemented over a 14-day feeding period on liver and cardiac function and the oxidative mechanism underlying these effects. We assessed relevant lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation biomarkers, antioxidant defense indices [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC)], and biochemical alterations [activities of aminotransferases (AT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and levels of lactate (L) and pyruvate (P)] in rainbow trout, European whitefish, and grayling. The fish received a control diet and an experimental diet containing yeast β-1,3/1,6-D-glucans at a dose of 1% in the basal feed for 14 days. The results demonstrated enhancement in the phagocytic activity and phagocytic index in the groups fed β-glucans, compared to the control groups. In the groups fed β-glucans, the oxidative stress parameters such as lipid peroxidation, oxidatively modified proteins, and TAC did not vary significantly. The dietary β-glucans stimulated CAT and GPx activities in hepatic and cardiac tissues in comparison to the control group; however, a reverse trend was observed in the GR activity in these tissues.