Re: carotenoid supplementation/gut loading
Hi All,
Mark Finke here. As Jeff mentioned I'm the person that provides technical support for Timberlines "Vita-bugs" which among other nutrients also has enhanced levels of carotenoids (mostly beta-carotene but also some lutein). In addition to some carotenoids serving as a source of vitamin A they seem to be involved in a variety of other functions including coloration, immune response ad reproduction. I did exchange e-mails with the author of the article mentioned above and she confirmed they did not see enhanced coloration in their frogs. Both Ogilvey and Brenes Soto also saw benefits to carotenoid supplementation although in the Ogilvy article the tadpole (not he adult) diet was supplemented. Also Oonincx has shown that feeding locusts carrots enhanced their carotenoid content although some (but probably not all) of that enhancement was "gut-loading" with the rest being incorporated into the tissue of the insect. Currently I am working on trying to quantify carotenoids in wild insects as a model or what we should be doing for commercially raised insects.
If I can answer any questions please let me know.
Ogilvy et al 2012. A brighter future for frogs? The influence of carotenoids on the health, development and reproductive success of the red-eye tree frog. Animal Conservation 15:480-488.
Brenes Soto, A. and E. Dierenfeld. 2012. Effect of dietary carotenoids on skin pigmentation in tomato frogs (Dyscophys guineti). European Nutrition Research Group Proc., Zurich, Switzerland.
Oonincx D.G.A.B., van der Poel A.F.B. 2010. Effects of diet on the chemical composition of migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria). Zoo.Biol. 28:1-8.
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