Scientists studied how much vitamin B12 Pacific white shrimp need to grow well and stay healthy. They fed different groups of young shrimp diets with varying amounts of B12 over 8 weeks and measured their growth, immune system strength, and ability to handle stress. The research found that shrimp fed a diet with about 2 mg of B12 per kilogram of food grew the fastest and had the strongest immune systems. This discovery helps shrimp farmers understand the right nutrition to keep their shrimp healthy and productive, which could improve seafood quality and farming efficiency.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much vitamin B12 young Pacific white shrimp need in their food to grow the biggest, stay the healthiest, and handle stressful conditions like ammonia exposure
  • Who participated: Young shrimp weighing about 0.17 grams each, divided into 6 groups with 32 shrimp per group, fed different amounts of B12 for 8 weeks
  • Key finding: Shrimp fed food with 2 mg of B12 per kilogram grew significantly better and had stronger immune systems than shrimp fed food with no added B12 or lower amounts
  • What it means for you: If you eat shrimp, this research helps farmers raise healthier, better-quality shrimp. For shrimp farming businesses, using the right amount of B12 in feed can improve profits and product quality, though results may take several weeks to show

The Research Details

Researchers created six different shrimp diets: one with no added B12, four with increasing amounts of B12 (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg per kilogram), and one with an antibiotic added as a comparison. They divided young shrimp into groups and fed each group one diet for 8 weeks, measuring how much they grew, how efficiently they used their food, and how strong their immune systems became. They also tested how well shrimp could survive in water with high ammonia levels, which is a common stress in farming environments.

This approach is called a controlled experiment because the researchers changed only one thing at a time (the amount of B12) while keeping everything else the same. This helps them figure out exactly what effect B12 has on shrimp health.

The scientists measured many different things: physical growth, how well shrimp converted food into body weight, blood cell counts, immune system markers, and genes that turned on or off in response to B12 levels.

This research design is important because it shows cause-and-effect relationships rather than just connections. By controlling everything except B12 levels, scientists can confidently say that B12 directly affects shrimp growth and immunity. This type of evidence is what farmers need to make practical decisions about feeding their shrimp.

The study used multiple measurements (growth, immunity, stress resistance, and gene expression) rather than just one outcome, which makes the findings more reliable. The researchers tested multiple shrimp in each group and repeated the experiment four times, which strengthens confidence in the results. However, this study was done in laboratory conditions with young shrimp, so results might differ slightly in real farming environments with older shrimp.

What the Results Show

Shrimp fed the diet with 2 mg of B12 per kilogram gained significantly more weight and converted their food into body weight more efficiently than shrimp fed diets with no added B12 or lower amounts. This means farmers could produce bigger shrimp using less food, which saves money.

The immune system benefits were even more impressive. Shrimp fed higher B12 levels had more blood cells, stronger immune proteins, and better antioxidant protection (which helps cells fight damage). When exposed to ammonia stress, shrimp that received adequate B12 survived better than those without it.

At the genetic level, B12 activated genes responsible for growth, immunity, and protecting cells from damage. These genetic changes suggest that B12 works by turning on the body’s natural defense and growth systems.

Interestingly, the benefits plateaued around 2 mg per kilogram—adding even more B12 didn’t provide additional benefits, suggesting this is the sweet spot for nutrition.

The study found that shrimp fed the antibiotic diet (used as a comparison) didn’t perform as well as shrimp fed the optimal B12 diet, suggesting that proper nutrition might be better than antibiotics for supporting shrimp health. Additionally, B12 levels in the shrimp’s blood, liver, and waste increased proportionally with dietary B12, confirming that shrimp were absorbing and using the vitamin.

This research builds on earlier studies showing that B12 is important for animal growth and immunity. However, this is one of the first studies to precisely determine the exact amount of B12 that Pacific white shrimp need. Previous research in other animals suggested B12 was important, but this study provides specific numbers that farmers can use.

The study was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions with young shrimp, so results might differ in outdoor farming ponds with older shrimp or different water conditions. The study lasted 8 weeks, which is relatively short, so we don’t know if these benefits continue over a shrimp’s entire lifespan. Additionally, the study didn’t test different water temperatures or other environmental factors that might affect B12 needs.

The Bottom Line

Shrimp farmers should include approximately 2 mg of vitamin B12 per kilogram of feed to optimize growth and immune function (high confidence based on this controlled study). This recommendation is most reliable for young shrimp in controlled farming conditions. Farmers should monitor shrimp growth and health to confirm results in their specific environments.

Shrimp farmers and aquaculture companies should care most about this research, as it directly affects their production efficiency and profitability. Feed manufacturers can use this information to formulate better shrimp feeds. Consumers who care about seafood quality and sustainability may benefit indirectly from healthier, more efficiently raised shrimp. This research is less relevant to people who don’t eat shrimp or work in aquaculture.

Farmers would likely see improved growth rates within 2-3 weeks of switching to properly supplemented feed, with maximum benefits appearing by 4-6 weeks. Immune system improvements may develop more gradually over the 8-week period studied.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you manage a shrimp farm, track weekly average shrimp weight, feed conversion ratio (pounds of feed per pound of growth), and survival rates before and after adjusting B12 levels in feed. Record these metrics for at least 8 weeks to see the full effect.
  • Switch to a shrimp feed formulated with 2 mg of B12 per kilogram and monitor your farm’s production metrics. If you’re a feed supplier, reformulate products to include this B12 level. If you’re a consumer, look for shrimp from farms using optimized nutrition practices.
  • Establish a baseline of your current shrimp growth and health metrics, then implement the B12-optimized feed while keeping all other variables constant. Measure results weekly for 8-12 weeks to determine if you see the improvements documented in this research. Track both growth metrics and any observed health improvements in your shrimp population.

This research was conducted on Pacific white shrimp in controlled laboratory conditions and may not directly apply to other shrimp species, wild shrimp populations, or different farming environments. The findings are specific to juvenile shrimp and may differ for adult shrimp. While this study provides strong evidence for B12’s importance in shrimp nutrition, farmers should consult with aquaculture nutritionists before making significant changes to their feeding programs, as individual farm conditions, water quality, and other factors may affect results. This research does not provide medical advice for human consumption of shrimp and should not be interpreted as such.