Effects of dietary astaxanthin and vitamin E and their interactions on the growth performance, pigmentation, digestive enzyme activity of kuruma shrimp (<i>Marsupenaeus japonicus</i>)

A 56-day feeding trial was done to investigate the interactive effects of astaxanthin (Ax) and vitamin E (α-Toc) on the performance of kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus). A 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted with six experimental diets containing two levels of Ax (0 and 0.6 g/kg diet [Ax0 and Ax0.6]) and three levels of α-Toc (0, 0.2 and 1 g/kg diet [α-Toc0, α-Toc0.2 and α-Toc1]). The results indicated that growth performance was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in shrimp fed with the Ax0.6 × α-Toc0.2 diet. Interactive effects between Ax and α-Toc on the growth parameters were observed. Furthermore, pigmentation performance was significantly (p < 0.05) better in the Ax0.6 groups. Interaction between Ax and α-Toc was also found…