BioMar has significantly increased the levels of vitamin D3 across all salmon diets.

In 2019, the EU raised the maximum permitted vitamin D3 levels in aquafeed for salmonids from 2,500 to 60,000 IU/kg. BioMar undertook research to explore how enhanced vitamin D3 supplementation would impact salmonid diets. The research confirmed that higher dietary vitamin D3 levels led to a proportional increase in fillet vitamin D3 content without negatively affecting fish performance, feed intake, or feed conversion.

“Vitamin D is crucial for fish health, supporting bone development, calcium regulation, and immune function,” said Pedro Gómez Requeni, senior R&D Scientist at BioMar, in a press release. “Our research confirms that feeds with optimized vitamin D3 levels enriched fillet vitamin D content while maintaining an optimal fish performance.”

BioMar has taken advantage of the increased maximum permitted levels of vitamin D3. Farmers will automatically get salmon diets that promote optimal fish performance, while producing fillets with enhanced nutritional value, supporting market differentiation and consumer preferences for nutrient-rich foods.

“Consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of vitamin D for their health,” said Simon Wadsworth, R&D director at BioMar. “By formulating feeds that naturally enrich fish fillets, we are helping farmers offer products with added value and supporting public health goals.”

The enhanced vitamin D3 content in salmon fillets will contribute to increased consumer dietary intake, helping to support widespread vitamin D insufficiency in many populations.

“This is a practical formulation improvement with wide-reaching impact,” concluded Simon. “It supports healthier fish, helps farmers differentiate their products, and offers consumers an improved nutritional profile.”