Alternative boosters for growth and gonadal development in female Eriocheir sinensis: Insights into cholesterol and lipid metabolism

This study investigated the effects of replacing dietary cholesterol with various functional additives on the growth, antioxidant capacity, gonadal development, and cholesterol metabolism of female Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) during the fattening period, and assessed their potential to promote ovarian maturation. Five groups of isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated. The control group was fed a commercial diet, while the experimental group was fed the control diet supplemented with 0.1% cholesterol (CHOL), 500 mg/kg squalene (SQ), 100 mg/kg phytosterol (PS), and 0.4% Phaffia rhodozyma (Pr), respectively. Results showed that the CHOL group showed the highest growth rates and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (P