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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 111 No. 12 December 1981, pp. 2125-2132
Copyright © 1981 by American Society for Nutrition
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Intestinal Synthesis and Absorption of Vitamin B-12 in Channel Catfish

Tasanee Limsuwan1 and Richard T. Lovell

Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849

A feeding experiment conducted in a controlled environment and using a vitamin B12-deficient, but otherwise nutritionally complete, purified diet revealed that intestinal microorganisms in channel catfish synthesized approximately 1.4 ng of vitamin B12 per gram of bodyweight per day. Removal of cobalt from the diet or supplementation with an antibiotic (succinylsulfathiazole) significantly reduced the rate of intestinal synthesis and liver stores of vitamin B12. Radiolabeled vitamin B12 in the blood, liver, kidneys, and spleen of fish fed 60Co in the diet indicated that the intestinally synthesized vitamin was absorbed by the fish. The primary route of absorption was directly from the digestive tract into the blood because coprophagy was prevented in the rearing aquariums and the amount of vitamin B12 dissolved in the aquarium water was too low for gill absorption. Dietary supplementation of vitamin B12 was not necessary for normal growth and erythrocyte formation in channel catfish in a 24-week feeding period. A longer period, however, may have caused a vitamin deficiency since liver-stored vitamin B12 decreased between the 2nd and 24th weeks.

KEY WORDS: • vitamin B12 • intestinal synthesis • absorption • bacterial synthesis • channel catfish

1 Present address: 702-4 Rajdamnern Rd., Korat, Thailand.

Manuscript received 20 April 1981.




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