The effects of dietary stachyose as prebiotic on immunity and antioxidant related genes’ expression and lipid metabolism in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to examine the efficacy of stachyose as a prebiotic on immune parameters, antioxidant-/immune-related genes’ expression, and lipid metabolism of zebrafish. Three hundred zebrafish (0.45 ± 0.08 g) were fed four diets containing different stachyose levels at 0, 1, 2 and 4 g kg⁻¹, respectively. After eight weeks of the feeding trial, immunity, antioxidant defence and lipid metabolism were tested. It was observed that the addition of stachyose to the diet induced no significant influence (P>0.05) in SOD, GPX, and CAT, gene’s expression, compared to the control diet. The inclusion of stachyose resulted in no significant changes in immune gene expression (Lyz, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF) in zebrafish (P>0.05) compared to the control diet. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) significantly (P<0.05) decreased with the addition of 2 and 4 g kg⁻¹ stachyose, while fish fed the control diet and 1 g.kg⁻¹ recorded the highest significant value of LDL (P<0.05). Fish fed diet, either control diet or diet supplemented with 0.5 g kg⁻¹ stachyose, recorded the lowest HDL value (P<0.05) compared to other treatments. In conclusion, stachyose can be potentially used as a feed additive to modulate lipid metabolism. However, this prebiotic did not benefit immune parameters and antioxidant defence.