Effects of fasting on the meat quality and antioxidant defenses of market-size farmed large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea)

The study was conducted to investigate fasting effect on flesh composition and antioxidant defenses of market-size large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea). Two hundred fish (main initial weight 380 g) were divided into two groups (control and fasted) and reared in 6 cages. After two weeks of adaptation, group I fasted for 28 days; group II was fed normally as a control. In 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, 6 fish per group were processed for proximate flesh composition, liver antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyden flesh content analyses. In fasted fish, the reduction of lipid content in muscle occurred after day 3, and, compared to controls, the content of protein decreased from day 21, the activities of liver antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) increased from day 3, and flesh malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased from day 21. Muscle lipid reduction shows that the fasting technique is effective in end product improvement of large yellow croaker. However, considering flesh protein loss and the subsequent oxidative stress, the fasting technique should be used with precautions.