Based on the fact that medium - chain triglyceddes suppress accumulation of reserved lipids in mammals and some fish species, the effect of dietary laurate on lipid accumulation and vitality was further examined in red sea bream. Ethyl laurate （0.5 % ） supplemented to the diet was fed to zero - year red sea bream （0.3 g） for 47 days. While dietary laurate did not influence growth performance, increasing of muscle ratio and decreasing of liver weight were observed. The dietary laurate led to reducing liver triglycerides, intraperitoneal fat body ratio, adipocyte diameter, and liver lipid. In addition, docosahexaenoic acid （DHA）, functioning as a physiologically active nutrient, tended to increase in the muscle, liver, heart, brain and eyes. Dietary laurate activated resistance against air-dipping and liver function, as seen in the case of dietary DHA fortification. It is concluded that dietary laurate could depress lipid accumulation and improve vitality, while the influence of laurate on the tissue DHA deposition might relate to its efficacy.