Bayesian Meta-Analysis: Impacts of Eating Habits and Habitats on Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Composition and Growth in Cultured Fish

Abstract

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (<em>n</em>-3 LC-PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5<em>n</em>-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6<em>n</em>-3, DHA) offer protective benefits against various pathological conditions, including atherosclerosis, obesity, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. Marine fish and seafood are the primary sources of <em>n</em>-3 LC-PUFAs in the human diet. However, the inclusion of fish oil in aquafeeds is declining due to limited availability, fluctuating prices, sustainability concerns, and replacement with vegetable oils. While comprehensive narrative reviews on the impact of substituting fish oil with vegetable oil in aquafeeds exist, quantitative studies are relatively scarce and mainly focused on comparing the source of vegetable oils. Herein, we employed, for the first time, a Bayesian meta-analysis approach, collecting research data from 81 articles to quantitatively analyze the effects of dietary <em>n</em>-3 LC-PUFA levels on the <em>n</em>-3 LC-PUFA composition and growth performance in cultured fish. Our findings indicate that with the exception of herbivorous fish, dietary <em>n</em>-3 LC-PUFA levels significantly affect the EPA and DHA levels in the livers and muscles of carnivorous, omnivorous, freshwater, and marine fish. Additionally, the growths of freshwater and herbivorous fish were less affected by changes in dietary <em>n</em>-3 LC-PUFA levels compared to that of carnivorous and marine fish.