Effect of soybean and seaweed-based diets on growth performance, feed utilization, and gut microbiota of tilapia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Tilapia, a significant aquaculture species globally, relies heavily on feed for its production. While numerous studies have investigated the impact of soybean and seaweed-based diets on tilapia, a comprehensive understanding remains elusive. This review aimed at evaluating and synthesizing the existing literature on these diets’ effects, focusing on growth perfor- mance, feed utilization, and gut microbiota. A systematic search of databases was con- ducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a total of 57 studies were included in the qualitative analysis and 24 in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that soybean-based diets, at a 59.4% inclu- sion level improved the Specific Growth Rate (SGR) of tilapia with an effect size of -2.14 (95% CI: -2.92, -1.37; p < 0.00001; I 2 = 99%) and did not improve the feed conversion rate (FCR), as the effect size was 1.80 (95% CI: 0.72, 2.89; p = 0.001; I 2 = 100%). For seaweed- based diets, at a 15,9% inclusion level did not improve SGR, with an effect size of -0.74 (95% CI: -1.70, 0.22; p = 0.13; I 2 = 99%), and the FCR with an effect size of -0.70 (95% CI: -1.94, 0.54; p = 0.27; I 2 = 100%). Regarding the gut microbiota, was noted a lack of studies meeting the inclusion criteria for tilapia. However, findings from studies on other farmed fishes suggested that soybean and seaweed-based diets could have diverse effects on gut microbiota composition and promote the growth of beneficial microbiota. This study sug- gests that incorporating soybean-based diets at 59.4% inclusion can improve the SGR of tilapia. Seaweed-based diets, while not demonstrating improvement in the analyzed param- eters with an inclusion level of 15.9%, have the potential to contribute to the sustainability of the aquaculture industry when incorporated at lower levels.

Description

Research article

Keywords

Soybeans, Seaweed, Diet, Gut bacteria, Metaanalysis, Database searching, Animal performance, Systematic reviews

Citation

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0293775