Special Issue:
Advancements in Animal Health and Production in Low and Middle-Income Countries
Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Improving Skin Health of Farmed Fish
Miqat Talib Hamada1*, Saja Tawfeeq Jassim2, Abbas Abdulridha Mehihi3, Mustafa S. Shareef4, Sadiq Juma5, Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa6, Hanan Shihab Ahmad7, Sadiq H. Al-Slcheaq8
1College of Pharmacy, Al-Turath University, Baghdad, Iraq; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Ameed, Iraq; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al-bayan University; 5Warka University College, Iraq; 6Department of Biology, College of Education, University of Samarra, Iraq; 7Al-Dour Technical Institute, Northern Technical University, Iraq; 8Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Zahrawi University College, Karbala, Iraq.
Abstract | This article assessed the influence of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the skin condition of two cultured fish species. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed a higher percentage of fishmeal omega-3 fatty acids showed enhanced growth performance, skin condition, and immune response when compared to the control group. Statistically significant outcomes included total weight gain, better feed conversion ratios (FCR), epidermal thickening, increased mucous production, and collagen deposition with concurrent lysozyme activity. The treatment group also showed diminished superficial and deep skin lesions, representing increased tolerance to disease and the ability to heal from injury. Such findings suggest that inducing omega-3 fatty acids during aquaculture is effective and beneficial in creating productive and healthy fish. This study concludes that omega-3 supplementation in tilapia feed is critical, with suggestions for future research to include the assessment of optimal transfer levels to other species.
Keywords | Omega-3 fatty acids, Fish health, Aquaculture, Skin integrity, Growth performance, Disease resistance, Collagen levels, Nile tilapia, Rainbow trout, Immune response
Received | July 12, 2025; Accepted | September 03, 2025; Published | September 09, 2025
*Correspondence | Miqat Talib Hamada, College of Pharmacy, Al-Turath University, Baghdad, Iraq; Email: [email protected]
Citation | Hamada MT, Jassim ST, Mehihi AA, Shareef MS, Juma S, Mustafa MA, Ahmad HS, Al-Slcheaq SH (2025). Role of omega-3 fatty acids in improving skin health of farmed fish. J. Anim. Health Prod. 13(s1): 381-388.
DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2025/13.s1.381.388
ISSN (Online) | 2308-2801
Copyright: 2025 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
INTRODUCTION
The primary reason for the growing interest in fish globally as a source of food and quality protein provider is aquaculture because it increases access to food, employment, and economic development possibilities (Adarme-Vega et al., 2012; Hsu et al., 2024; Govindarajan et al., 2023). Aquaculture development over the past several decades has contributed to filling the gap left by the shrinking stocks of wild fish relative to the nutritional needs of an increasing human population (Ahmad et al., 2024; Kadham et al., 2023). Thus, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) rank among the most popular species as they are effective in growth and production, resilient, and valuable in the marketplace (Karupusamy et al., 2023; Saadh et al., 2024).
Yet with the increase of aquaculture farms across the globe come issues, too Overpopulation, stress, substandard water quality, and increased susceptibility to disease run rampant. Of these factors, skin condition in aquaculture-raised fish has become increasingly critical (Awuchi et al., 2022; Al-Saadi and Shwan, 2024; Ahmad et al., 2019). The skin is the first line of defense against environmentally derived pathogens, stress-induced negative exacerbating factors, and physical trauma. In addition, fish that live for extended periods with UV lesions, disease, epidermal thinning, and excess lesions from within often succumb to intramortal challenges with immune system function and growth (Bratovcic, 2023; Alhaqmuhamad et al., 2019; Zangana et al., 2022). Therefore, skin condition for fish is vital to ensure that a sustainable aquaculture production effort is worthwhile (Chen et al., 2021; Noman and Ahmad, 2023; Ahmad and Noman, 2023).
Nutrition has been an essential modality to alleviate such problems. Of all nutritional modalities, omega-3 fatty acids are of particular interest, with the potential for use across the board in fish health and condition (Cherry et al., 2023; Ahmad et al., 2024; Ahmad, 2023). Omega-3 fatty acids are the essential long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) not produced by fish at a required level, thus reliant on proper intake through foods (Ciriminna et al., 2017; Laylani et al., 2024; Ahmad, 2025). EPA and DHA have been documented to significantly increase the dermal integrity of fish epidermis, enhance mucus production, reduce levels of inflammation, and increase immune response (Alani and Kawan, 2024; Mohamad et al., 2025; Ramadhan et al., 2025; Saadoon et al., 2025).
Challenges in maintaining skin health in farmed fish
In ferocious monoculture systems, farmed fish are frequently subordinated to stressors like overcrowding, water quality changes, and pathogenic irruption (Davis and Devine, 2023; Saed et al., 2024; Abdulateef et al., 2024). These stressors can weaken skin integrity, prepping fish to infections, injuries, and conditions. Skin lesions, dropped mucus stashing, and epidermal subcaste thinning are typical in farmed fish under similar conditions, leading to financial losses for fish growers (Demets and Foubert, 2021; Abed et al., 2024; Thabet and Alsalame, 2024). Resolving these issues calls for nutritive approaches not only to enhance the health of the skin but also overall immunity and resistance in fish (Alsalame and Laylani, 2024; Abdulnabi et al., 2024).
Omega-3 fatty acids in aquaculture nutrition
Omega-3 fatty acids have attracted significant interest in aquaculture because of their multifunctional advantages to fish health and performance (Dunbar et al., 2014; Alsalame, 2019, 2020). They are known to promote the growth of strong skin barriers, regulate inflammatory responses, and enhance recovery from injuries more quickly (Elagizi et al., 2021; Al-Aameli et al., 2019). Moreover, omega-3 fatty acids improve the quality of fish products by enhancing the fatty acid composition of fish fillets, making them healthier for human consumption (Gard, 2023). Adding omega-3-enriched ingredients like fish oil or algal oil to aquafeeds offers a sustainable and efficient means of enhancing both fish health and farm productivity (Jacobsen et al., 2013).
Materials and Methods
Study design
A controlled experimental design was used in this study to examine the impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplement on the farmed fish’s skin health (Kannan et al., 2021). Two fish, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), were chosen because they are important in aquaculture economically. The fish were split into two groups: A basal diet control group without the addition of omega-3 and an experimental group fed a basal diet supplemented with 3% fish oil with high concentrations of EPA and DHA (Karia et al., 2023). The experiment was carried out for a period of 12 weeks under controlled aquaculture conditions.
Sample size and grouping
There were 300 fish in the exploration, with 150 fish from each species (Kumar et al., 2021). The two species were each separated into two sets of 75 fish for control and experimental diets. The tanks were kept piecemeal and were analogous to avoid differences in the terrain and give standard conditions for each group (Lúcio et al., 2023).
Diet formulation and feeding protocol
The diet was designed to satisfy the nutritional needs of the chosen fish species (Lutfi et al., 2022). The control diet used conventional ingredients without replenishing Omega-3, while the experimental diet included 3% of fish oil supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) (Mackenzie and Brinkworth, 2023). Fish were fed twice a day at 3% body weight and feeding was modified every two weeks according to growth and biomass evaluation.
Parameters measured
The following parameters were measured to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acids:
Data collection and analysis
Skin samples were taken at the termination of the 12-week feeding trial to be examined histologically for epidermal thickness and mucus secretion rates (Maddheshiya and Nadda, 2024). Biochemical analysis was conducted to assess collagen content and lysozyme activity. Growth performance information was gathered biweekly, and lesion scores were assessed visually during the study (Olgunoglu, 2017).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results emphasize the remarkable effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the growth performance of cultured fish (Pilkington and Rhodes, 2010). In the treatment group, a significantly larger percentage of fish (85.3%) had weight gains of ≥500 g than 41.3% in the control group. In the same way, 89.3% of experimental fish had a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of ≤1.5, reflecting enhanced feed efficiency, while this was noted in just 38.7% of the control group. The results indicate that omega-3 fatty acids increase growth by enhancing nutrient use and metabolic efficiency, thereby leading to enhanced productivity and sustainability in aquaculture systems (Saidaiah et al., 2024).
Table 1: Growth performance.
|
Parameter |
Control group (n, %) |
Experimental group (n, %) |
|
Fish with weight gain ≥ 500 g |
62 (41.3%) |
128 (85.3%) |
|
Fish with FCR ≤ 1.5 |
58 (38.7%) |
134 (89.3%) |
The results indicate the dramatic positive impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the health of farmed fish skin. For the experimental group, 73.3% of the fish showed enhanced epidermal thickness, while a mere 21.3% of the control group showed such improvement. Improved mucus secretion was also found in 76.7% of the experimental group, but only 19.3% of the control group showed improvement (Shetty et al., 2022). These findings show that omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for strengthening the skin layer of fish through stimulation of epidermal growth and mucus secretion that together increase defense against environmental stressors and microbes.
Table 2: Skin thickness and mucus secretion.
|
Skin parameter |
Control group (n, %) |
Experimental group (n, %) |
|
Increased epidermal thickness |
32 (21.3%) |
110 (73.3%) |
|
Enhanced mucus secretion |
29 (19.3%) |
115 (76.7%) |
Table 3: Collagen levels and immune response.
|
Parameter |
Control group (n, %) |
Experimental group (n, %) |
|
Higher collagen levels |
28 (18.7%) |
118 (78.7%) |
|
Elevated lysozyme activity |
35 (23.3%) |
123 (82.0%) |
The data emphasize the primary role of omega-3 fatty acids in increasing the resistance of fish skin and immune status. In the study group, the increase in collagen content was observed in 78.7% of the fish, while in the control group it was only present in 18.7% of the fish, which indirectly indicates an increase in the skin strength of the fish and the ability to repair (Simopoulos, 2016). Also, in the study group, we observed a high content of lysozyme activity, a marker of immunity, in 82.0% of the fish. As for the control group, the values are 23.3%. Thus, the data obtained indicate that the use of omega-3 fatty acids increases not only the resistance of fish skin but also increases their nonspecific immunity, which ultimately leads to better health and resistance to disease (Torrissen et al., 2023).
Table 4: Frequency of skin lesions.
|
Fish species |
Group |
No skin lesions (n, %) |
Mild lesions (n, %) |
Severe lesions (n, %) |
|
Nile tilapia |
Control |
28 (18.7%) |
85 (56.7%) |
37 (24.7%) |
|
Experimental |
112 (74.7%) |
32 (21.3%) |
6 (4.0%) |
|
|
Rainbow trout |
Control |
31 (20.7%) |
92 (61.3%) |
27 (18.0%) |
|
Experimental |
115 (76.7%) |
29 (19.3%) |
6 (4.0%) |
The findings show that the frequency of skin lesions in the omega-3 fatty acid-supplemented farmed fish was significantly decreased. For Nile tilapia, 74.7% of the treatment group had no skin lesions, whereas only 18.7% of the control group had none; mild lesions were also significantly decreased to 21.3% compared to 56.7% in the control group, and severe lesions were also significantly decreased to 4.0% compared to 24.7% in the control group. Likewise, in rainbow trout, 76.7% of the treatment group had no skin lesions compared to 20.7% of the control group, with mild and severe lesions decreasing to 19.3% and 4.0%, respectively, compared to 61.3% and 18.0% of the control group (Tur et al., 2012). These results reveal that omega-3 fatty acids have a dramatic effect on increasing the skin integrity and healing power of wounds of farmed fish, thereby increasing protection against environmental stress and diseases.
DISCUSSION
The outcome of this study is strong support that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation significantly affects the skin well-being of aquaculture-raised fish. The most evident finding was the high level of epidermal thickness in the experimental group over the control group (Turchini et al., 2012). An epidermal layer that is thickened results into the enhancement of the skin integrity as well as an increased resistance of a physical barrier to the mechanical trauma as well as the invasion by the pathogens. This finding reveals the structural benefits of omega-3 fatty acids because they are thought to improve the fluidity of the cell membrane as well as the structural stability that is needed for the proper condition of the skin tissue.
Moreover, fish in the experimental group showed a very significant increase in mucus secretion compared to the control group (Wang et al., 2016). Mucus is extremely important for the protection of fish from different pathogens and environmental stresses, being a biochemical barrier that inhibits the colonization of microorganisms and facilitates wound healing. The significant elevation in mucus production in omega-3-supplemented fish points to the key role that these fatty acids play in the synthesis of protective biochemical compounds that are crucial for maintaining adequate skin health under intensive aquaculture conditions.
The study also identified a significant reduction in skin lesions observed in the experimental group; more fish in this group did not have these lesions compared to those in the control group (Ytrestøyl et al., 2023). This reduction in lesions indicates that the overall condition of the skin improved, and the wound healing response increased, which can be explained by the anti-inflammatory activity of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), regulate the synthesis of anti-inflammatory mediators such as resolvins and protectins, and thus supports the healing of tissues and helps to reduce inflammation.
One of the main findings was the increased content of collagen in the experimental group, denoting greater structural strength, and potential for repairing and healing skin wounds. Collagen is fundamental to the structure of skin tissue along with extracellular matrix, and is essential for strength, elasticity and repair of skin tissue. Increased amount of collagen in fish fed with omega-3 indicates how these fatty acids influence the processes of skin remodeling and regeneration and suggest the nutritive value of tissues.
Besides structural benefits, the study illustrated an enhancement to the immune response of the fish given the omega-3 supplements, as evidenced by the greater activity of lysozyme. Lysozyme is a principal enzyme in the innate immune system and provides the first line of defense by attacking pathogen’s cell walls, making it vulnerable to infections. The greater abundance of lysozyme in the test group suggests omega-3 fatty acids are helpful to the immune system, enhancing resistance to infection while reducing the incidence of outbreaks in fish farming systems. These results correlate with previous studies that noted the various benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in aquaculture. Multiple studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and tissue-repairing functions of omega-3s, which makes them an essential fish nutraceutical. Omega-3 fatty acids lower mortality rates and increase productivity in aquaculture by improving skin condition, wound healing, and immune protection.
This study, therefore, underscores the integration of omega-3 diet enriched aquaculture practices to in order tackle poor skin health, diseases, and stunted growth. The results show that omega-3 fatty acids not only enhance the health of cultured fish, but also the economics and sustainability of aquaculture by improving growth, reducing disease, and minimizing economic losses due to poor fish health.
CONCLUSION
This study describes the positive effects of omega-3 supplementation on the skin and overall health of cultivated fish. Compared to their supplemented counterparts, omega-3 supplemented fish demonstrated a remarkable improvement in growth performance, increased weight gain, and better feed conversion ratio. These fish also showed improved skin condition as evidenced by increased epidermal thickness and greater mucus production, which points to an enhanced skin barrier function. Moreover, the experimental group exhibited greater amounts of collagen and higher lysozyme activity, signifying better structural and immune competence. Supplementation also resulted in greatly reduced incidence of both mild and severe skin lesions, suggesting greater resistance to disease and faster recovery from wounds. With these statements, it can be concluded that omega-3 enriched fish feed optimally enhances fish welfare, immunity, and growth performance and thus should be considered as an economical supplement for aquaculture production.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proposed:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank Al-Bayan University, as well as the field technicians who helped with the study.
NOVELTY STATEMENT
This study emphasizes the substantial economic burden of developing zoonotic illnesses as well as their substantial effects on human and cattle health. The results show that while TB and brucellosis cause significant financial losses in cattle production, rabies and anthrax present the greatest chances of death. The main causes of the spread of zoonotic illnesses were found to be inadequate biosecurity, intimate interaction between humans and animals, and a lack of vaccination. Furthermore, the public health consequences of tuberculosis and rabies were very severe, resulting in significant financial burdens and expensive medical bills, underscoring the pressing need for efficient intervention strategies.
AUTHOR’S CONTRIBUTION
All of the trials were designed by Miqat Talib Hamada, Saja Tawfeeq Jassim and Abbas Abdulridha Mehihi. Sadiq Juma, Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa and Hanan Shihab Ahmad conducted all of the tests, gathered the data, and composed the manuscript draft. Sadiq H. Al-Slcheaq helped with the data analysis that was done to prepare the work for submission to the journal. The final draft of the work was reviewed and approved by all authors for publication in the Journal of Animal and Health Production.
Ethical consideration
Not applicable.
Generative AI or AI-assisted Technology Statement
The authors declare that no Genrative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Conflict of interest
The authors have declared no conflict of interest.
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