Effects of Liposomal Vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10, and Bee Venom Supplementation on Bacterial Communities and Performance in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Abstract

This experimental study evaluated the impacts of three nutraceuticals [liposomal vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and bee venom (BV)] on the physiological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 360 fish (initial weight: 35.17 ± 0.22 g) were randomly allocated to four isonitrogenous and isolipidic dietary treatments: a control group and three supplementation groups (liposomal vitamin C at 200 mg/kg, CoQ10 at 60 mg/kg, and BV at 4 mg/kg), with three replicates per treatment, and fish were fed to apparent satiation. After a 60-day feeding trial, comprehensive analyses revealed significant improvements in growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, immune responses, and antioxidant status across supplemented groups, with bee venom exhibiting the most pronounced effects. Nutraceutical supplementation enhanced gastrointestinal enzyme activities, modulated gut microbiota composition, and improved liver and intestinal histological characteristics. Immunological assessments demonstrated elevated lysozyme levels, bactericidal activity, and respiratory burst activity, while antioxidant markers showed increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, accompanied by reduced malondialdehyde levels. These findings suggest that strategic nutraceutical supplementation can substantially optimize physiological functions and health parameters in Nile tilapia aquaculture.