Nutrient interactions in feed are crucial for skin health, red pigmentation, energy metabolism, and membrane fluidity. Photo: Terje Aamodt/Nofima

Zinc and Omega-3: The Power Duo Optimizing Salmon Health and Fillet Quality

NORWAY
Friday, October 10, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Research Reveals that Nutritional Interaction, Including Saturated Fat, is Crucial for Norwegian Salmon's Adaptability

It has now been documented that the interplay between nutrients in feed is crucial for salmon to achieve optimal growth, robust health, and high fillet quality. Scientists at Nofima and its partners particularly point to two key synergies in salmon feed: the one between the mineral zinc and the omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), and the relationship between cholesterol and saturated fat.

La Importancia Inesperada de la Grasa Saturada y el Colesterol

Yes, you heard correctly. Saturated fat and cholesterol, often associated with adverse health effects in humans, are important for salmon.

Nini Sissener has researched the synergies between the lipid cholesterol and saturated fat in the salmon’s nutrition. Photo: Bente Ruyter/Nofima -->

Nofima scientist, Nini Sissener, explains that over the past decades, fish oil has been gradually replaced with vegetable oil in feed, and during this time, the salmon’s requirement for saturated fat has not received sufficient attention.

"Saturated fat has a greater impact on fillet quality than previously thought. Fishmeal and fish oil possess a unique composition of omega-3, saturated fats, and cholesterol. It is therefore important to assess what these changes mean for the quality of salmon raised on today’s plant-dominated feed," says Sissener, who carried out the study while employed at the Institute of Marine Research.

The research revealed that frozen salmon fillets lost more liquid during thawing when sourced from fish that had received insufficient saturated fat during the growth phase. Additionally, low cholesterol levels in the feed reduced the fillet’s firmness and red coloration.

The Unexpected Importance of Saturated Fat and Cholesterol

Scientists have also studied how zinc levels affect health and resilience in small salmon during the freshwater stage.

<-- Bente Ruyter finds one of the most exciting aspects of nutritional science is uncovering the complex interaction of nutrients and how this impacts many characteristics in the fish. Photo: Tone-Kari K. Østbye/Nofima.

Bente Ruyter, senior scientist at Nofima and project leader, emphasizes that high zinc and omega-3 levels have positive effects on scale development, wound healing in the skin, increased bone density, and overall growth.

"Together with omega-3, zinc enhances skin health, and more omega-3 improves the utilization of zinc. They are truly a power duo in salmon feed and act synergistically," says Ruyter.

For robust growth under optimal conditions in land-based tanks, research shows that 6 percent omega-3 of total fatty acids in the feed is sufficient.

Salmon at Sea Demand Higher Provision

Trials were also conducted on larger salmon in sea cages, where scientists found that fish lost minerals and had lower harvest weights when fed low zinc diets. However, mineralisation improved when both omega-3 in the feed increased, and total fat levels decreased.

The project's results, funded by FHF (the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund) and led by Nofima, demonstrate that salmon raised under challenging conditions in sea cages require more omega-3 for optimal growth, health, and fillet quality than those kept under ideal conditions in land-based tanks.

Photo: Nofima

For example, salmon that received 11 percent omega-3 of total fatty acids in the feed resumed feeding more quickly after delousing than those fed 6.5 percent. Since feed intake typically drops after delousing, Ruyter emphasizes that a rapid return to feeding is essential.

"What’s exciting about these findings is that the interaction between nutrients plays a key role in skin health, red coloration, energy metabolism, membrane fluidity, and the salmon’s ability to adapt to new production environments," concludes Ruyter.

Modern Norwegian salmon production involves various technical solutions, warmer seas, and more sea lice. To thrive throughout the production cycle, salmon need the right feed, supported by research from Nofima and its partners: the Institute of Marine Research, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), University of Gothenburg, Skretting Aquaculture Innovation AS, and Biomar AS.

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