Health benefits of scallops
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The health benefits of scallops are multifaceted, ranging from improved stress responses and survival rates to enhanced growth and immune system function. Supplementing scallop diets with PUFAs and probiotics has shown promising results in various studies, making scallops not only a nutritious food choice but also a subject of interest for further research in aquaculture and nutrition science.
By incorporating these dietary supplements, the aquaculture industry can potentially improve the health and resilience of scallop populations, ensuring a sustainable and healthy food source for consumers.
Scallops are not only a culinary delight but also offer numerous health benefits. Recent research has highlighted various aspects of scallop nutrition and its positive impacts on health. This article delves into the scientific findings on the health benefits of scallops.
Enhanced Stress Response and Survival
One of the significant health benefits of scallops is their improved stress response and survival rates, particularly when their diet is supplemented with essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). A study on the scallop species Argopecten purpuratus demonstrated that feeding these scallops a high-PUFA diet during reproductive conditioning enhanced their capacity to synthesize heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in response to thermal stress. This improvement was observed at both the transcription and protein levels. Moreover, the offspring of these scallops also showed increased HSP70 induction and better survival rates when exposed to stress, compared to those fed a low-PUFA diet1.
Growth and Immune System Enhancement
Another study focused on the Yesso scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) revealed that supplementation with the probiotic Bacillus aquimaris T16 significantly improved growth rates, enzyme activity, and disease resistance. The study found that scallops fed with T16 showed higher specific growth rates, survival rates, and increased activities of digestive and immune-related enzymes such as lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Additionally, these scallops exhibited enhanced resistance to the pathogen Vibrio splendidus, indicating a strengthened innate immune system2.
Probiotic Benefits
Probiotics have also been shown to positively impact the growth and enzyme activity of scallops. Research on the lions-paw scallop (Nodipecten subnodosus) indicated that the use of commercial probiotics like Epicin and Bactosafe led to faster and larger growth compared to a control group. These probiotics also resulted in higher levels of lysozyme, an enzyme crucial for immune response. Although the study noted varying effects on antioxidant enzyme activity, the overall findings suggest that probiotics can enhance the performance and health of scallops3.