The stability of ascorbic acid in Artemia urmiana following enrichment and subsequent starvation

Summary The effects of vitamin enrichment on ascorbic acid (AA) levels in Artemia urmiana were studied by applying an emulsion containing ascorbyl palmitate (AP) as a vitamin C source. Nauplii were kept at 28°C in incubators containing the enrichment medium (cod liver oil, AP, sodium polysurbate, α ‐tocopherol and tap water) for 0, 12, 18 and 24 h and then starved at 5°C for 0, 12, 18 and 24 h. AA was determined using a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled to an electrochemical detector. The results showed that nauplii of A. urmiana had high levels of ascorbic acid in their body tissues (1534 ± 166  μ g g −1 dry weight) and that the AA concentration increased following enrichment. The maximum enrichment level was reached by hour 18, declining by hour 24. There was a significant difference in AA levels between enriched and non‐enriched artemia (P < 0.05). Although AA contents were enhanced in all groups during starvation in cold conditions, the increases were not considerable. However, a clear correlation could be observed between duration of starving and rise in AA levels in non‐enriched and 12 and 18 h enriched groups.