What does this research mean for the field?

Dietary arginine levels of approximately 2.51-2.85% improve growth, survival, and antioxidative capacity in post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to determine the dietary requirements of arginine for post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei to improve growth and health.

March 16, 2026Open Access

Arginine improves growth and health status of post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei by modulating amino acid metabolism and enhancing antioxidative defense

Puntos clave

The research aims to determine the dietary requirements of arginine for post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei to improve growth and health.
Conducted a 25-day feeding trial with five diets varying in arginine levels (2.12-2.85%)
Measured growth performance and hepatopancreatic health indicators
Analyzed gene expression related to arginine metabolism and antioxidants
Performed metabolomic profiling and enrichment analysis
Growth performance improved significantly with higher dietary arginine
The highest survival rate occurred in shrimp fed 2.85% arginine
Antioxidant responses varied by endpoints; SOD and GPX peaked at 2.51-2.85%
Expression of multiple metabolism-related genes showed significant upregulation in intermediate arginine diets

Resumen

This study investigated the dietary arginine requirement for post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei based on growth performance and hepatopancreatic health indicators. A 25-day feeding trial was conducted. Five iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets contained graded arginine levels (2.12-2.85%, A0-A4). Increasing dietary arginine significantly promoted growth performance without affecting whole‑body composition, while the highest survival rate occurred in shrimp fed the 2.85% diet. Antioxidant responses were endpoint-dependent: SOD and GPX reached their highest activities at A2-A3 (with A2 showing marked activation), whereas T-AOC and CAT continued to increase and MDA decreased at higher arginine levels. Quadratic regression of SOD activity estimated an optimum at approximately 2.51%. Expression of arginine metabolism genes (agm, nos) and antioxidant genes (gpx, sod) was significantly upregulated in A2, whereas protein synthesis‑related genes were strongly activated in A4. Metabolomic profiling identified 141 differential metabolites, with L‑hydroxyarginine and DL‑proline upregulated and creatine downregulated in A4. In parallel, γ‑aminobutyric acid (GABA) and S‑adenosylmethionine (SAM) contents increased, indicating modulation of neurotransmission and methylation. Enrichment analysis showed significant effects on arginine and proline metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and GABAergic pathways. Correlation and network analyses suggested that elevated arginine improves growth and antioxidative capacity by reinforcing amino acid, phospholipid, and energy metabolism and supporting neuromodulation. In conclusion, integrating regression-estimated optima for antioxidant-related indices with growth and survival outcomes within the tested range suggests that the recommended dietary arginine requirement for post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei is approximately 2.51-2.85%, which promotes growth and survival, supports hepatopancreatic health, enhances antioxidant capacity, and modulates amino acid and lipid metabolism.

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