Simple SummaryThis study investigated the effect of low molecular weight sodium alginate (LMWSA) on the growth and health of witheleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Further, we tested whether LMWSA can alleviate the negative impacts of cadmium. This study showed that this additive could improve the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and antioxidant parameters. While cadmium suppressed the antioxidant system parameters in the control group, these parameters were not decreased in those fed dietary LMWSA.AbstractDecreasing low molecular weight can improve the digestibility and availability of ingredients such as sodium alginate. This study aimed to test the four dosages of low molecular weight sodium alginate (LMWSA) (0%: Control, 0.05%: 0.5 LMWSA, 0.10%: 1.0 LMWSA, and 0.2%: 2.0 LMWSA) in whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) (3.88 ± 0.25 g) for eight weeks. After finishing the trial, shrimp were exposed to cadmium (1 mg/L) for 48 h. While feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved in shrimp fed dietary 2.0 LMWSA (p< 0.05), there was no significant difference in growth among treatments. The results showed a linear relation between LMWSA level and FCR, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) before; and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), GST, and alanine transaminase (ALT) after cadmium stress (p< 0.05). The GST, MDA, ALT, and aspartate transaminase (AST) contents were changed after stress but not the 2.0 LMWSA group. The survival rate after stress in 1.0 LMWSA (85.23%) and 2.0 LMWSA (80.20%) treatments was significantly higher than the Control (62.05%). The survival rate after stress negatively correlated with GST and ALT, introducing them as potential biomarkers for cadmium exposure in whiteleg shrimp. Accordingly, the 2.0 LMWSA treatment had the best performance in the abovementioned parameters. As the linear relation was observed, supplementing more levels of LMWSA to reach a plateau is recommended.