Dietary betaine enhances muscle quality in largemouth bass: Insights into texture property, nutrient deposition, and lipid metabolic regulation under high-fat feeding

This study investigated the effects of betaine in high-fat diets on the muscle quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), focusing on muscle texture, nutrient content, flavor and metabolomics. Briefly, compared with the high-fat diet group, 0.4% betaine significantly optimized muscle quality: it improved key texture-related parameters (including water-holding capacity, collagen deposition, and fiber diameter), and elevated the contents of essential amino acids and umami/sweet free amino acids. Analysis via electronic nose, electronic tongue, and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) revealed that betaine enhanced the muscle flavor by regulating the profiles of volatile compounds. Metabolomic profiling indicated that high-fat feeding tended to promote linoleic acid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis, thereby inducing inflammatory responses; however, 0.4% betaine mitigated these adverse effects. In conclusion, 0.4% betaine effectively optimizes the muscle quality of largemouth bass fed high-fat diets, providing practical insights for the formulation of high-quality aquafeed.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

623

1873-5622

N/A

N/A

16