REVIEW article
Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture and Living Resources
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2025.1622474
This article is part of the Research TopicBeneficial Effects of Microorganisms and Their Metabolites, Including Probiotics, Fungi and Microalgae, on the Growth and Physiological Health of Aquatic AnimalsView all 5 articles
The Metabolism and Antioxidant Properties of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Fish: A Review
Provisionally accepted
Lishuko Ng'Onga
Kwaku Amoah
Huapu Chen
Yu Huang
Bei Wang
Vicent Shija
Mpwaga Alatwinusa Yohana
Muhammad Fachri
Jia Cai*- Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
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The issue of antimicrobial resistance in farm-raised fish presents a significant challenge for aquaculture operations. Long-term antibiotic treatment of fish for bacterial infections has led to bacteria thriving in the aquatic ecosystem and developing resistance to antibiotics. On the other hand, increasing research suggests that probiotics and prebiotics may be viable alternatives to antibiotics in regulating the immune system. Probiotics and prebiotics interact with fish metabolism in complex ways. These interactions offer promising alternatives to reduce antibiotic use in aquaculture. Introducing live microorganisms, known as probiotics, into an organism's system can help improve overall health by altering the microflora and boosting immunity. Acting as immunostimulants, prebiotics directly impact the fish's innate immune system. When used together, probiotics and prebiotics enhance immunomodulatory activity, providing numerous health benefits to aquatic animals. However, successfully replacing antibiotics with probiotics and prebiotics requires a deep understanding of metabolic pathways, optimization strategies, and innovative approaches. There has been a lack of extensive research on how probiotics and prebiotics impact lipid metabolism in various types of fish. This review aims to explore the intricate relationship between probiotics, prebiotics, and fish metabolism, with a specific focus on how these beneficial microorganisms and dietary fibers interact with fish antioxidant systems. We have also discussed the challenges faced by farmers when using probiotics and prebiotics. This review analyzes metabolic and antioxidant interactions mediated by probiotics and prebiotics in cultured fish species. It synthesizes findings on histological effects, enzymatic activity, and microbial interactions, with emphasis on lipid metabolism and immune modulation, and also discusses the practical implications for sustainable aquaculture.
Keywords: antioxidant capacity, antibiotics, Disease Resistance, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Metabolism
Received: 03 May 2025; Accepted: 13 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ng'Onga, Amoah, Chen, Huang, Wang, Shija, Yohana, Fachri and Cai. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jia Cai, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.