Metabolic reprogramming and skin resilience in Atlantic salmon
A 60-day commercial marine trial by UACh & Multi X combined GC-MS metabolomics and RT-qPCR to show accelerated tissue reconstruction, a systemic antioxidant shield and sustained IL-22 induction in skin.
A 60-day commercial marine trial in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), conducted with Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) and Multi X, evaluated NatControl® at 1 g/kg of feed against a control group, using GC-MS metabolomics and RT-qPCR.
The results point to a coordinated shift in how the fish builds and defends its outer barrier:
- Accelerated tissue reconstruction: lower collagen degradation and higher levels of linoleic acid and myo-inositol, consistent with a stronger skin barrier.
- Anabolic energy metabolism oriented toward healing and growth.
- A systemic antioxidant shield: α-tocopherol together with the nrf-2 / cat / gpx axis.
- Early and sustained induction of IL-22 in skin, a cytokine linked to antimicrobial peptides and epithelial homeostasis.
- Increases in hepcidin (HAMP), LEAP-2 and the flagellin sensor TLR-5.
The findings were presented at AQUASUR 2026 under the title Salmon Resilience & Metabolic Reprogramming. The full presentation is available in our Science library.