Stress reliever in aquaculture - osmoregulatory effects of betaine in aquatic diets

In biological systems, naturally occurring betaines (C₅H₁₁NO₂) discovered as base in sugar beets serve as organic osmolytes being plant-synthesized or taken up from the environment by cells for protection against osmotic stress. Intracellular accumulation of betaines permits water retention in cells to ease water intake for marine water fish or shrimps. Betaine has shown in aquaculture to increase growth performance of fish as to compensate for energy-expenditures during fast changing environments, such as water temperature, e.g. during transportation of living aquatic animals between farms or stocking into new farms. Sudden salinity changes often occur during heavy rains or flooding of ponds. Betaine gains attention in aquaculture to improve growth performance for channel catfish, tilapia and rainbow trout as well as white-leg shrimp.

Its effects are summarized and discussed to obtain strong growth performance of common aquaculture reared species under intense farming conditions.