Cadmium accumulation, zinc status, and mineral bioavailability of growing rats fed diets high in zinc with increasing amounts of phytic acid

Five groups of individually housed albino rats (n=7, initial average weight=48 g) were fed diets based on egg albumen and cornstarch (basal diet 8.2 g Ca, 6.0 g P, 0.7 g Mg, 225 mg Zn, 150 mg Fe, 60 mg Mn, 8 mg Cu, and 5 mg Cd) over a 4-wk period. Group I (control) was fed the basal diet free of phytic acid (PA). In groups II, III, IV, and V, cornstarch was replaced by 3.5, 7.0, 10.5, and 14.0 g sodium phytate/kg diet, respectively. Daily gain, feed efficiency, Zn status (Zn in plasma, femur, testes, liver and kidneys, activity of the plasma alkaline phosphatase) and apparent absorption of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn remained unchanged by the different dietary treatments. PA decreased apparent Mg absorption significantly and apparent absorption of Ca in tendency. Increasing the amount of phytate caused a corresponding enhancement of amount of the digestible P. Cd accumulation in the liver was not significantly altered, and kidney Cd accumulation slightly increased owing to PA. In conclusion, it was shown that under conditions of high dietary Zn, PA had only little effect on the carryover of Cd in growing rats.     

Dietary intrinsic phytate protects colon from lipid peroxidation in pigs with a moderately high dietary iron intake.

High iron consumption has been proposed to relate to an increase in the risk of colon cancer, whereas high levels of supplemental sodium phytate effectively reduce iron-induced oxidative injury and reverse iron-dependent augmentation of colorectal tumorigenesis. However, the protective role of intrinsic dietary phytate has not been determined. In this study, we examined the impact of removing phytate present in a corn-soy diet by supplemental microbial phytase on susceptibility of pigs to the oxidative stress caused by a moderately high dietary iron intake. Thirty-two weanling pigs were fed the corn-soy diets containing two levels of iron (as ferrous sulfate, 80 or 750 mg/kg diet) and microbial phytase (as Natuphos, BASF, Mt. Olive, NJ, 0 or 1200 units/kg). Pigs fed the phytase-supplemented diets did not receive any inorganic phosphorus to ensure adequate degradation of phytate. After 4 months of feeding, liver, colon, and colon mucosal scrapings were collected from four pigs in each of the four dietary groups. Colonic lipid peroxidation, measured as thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), was increased by both the high iron (P< 0.0008) and phytase (P< 0.04) supplementation. Both TBARS and F2-isoprostanes, an in vivo marker of lipid peroxidation, in colonic mucosa were affected by dietary levels of iron (P< 0.03). Mean hepatic TBARS in pigs fed the phytase-supplemented, high iron diet was 43%-65% higher than that of other groups although the differences were nonsignificant. Moderately high dietary iron induced hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity (P= 0.06) and protein expression, but decreased catalase (P< 0.05) in the colonic mucosa. In conclusion, intrinsic phytate in corn and soy was protective against lipid peroxidation in the colon associated with a moderately high level of dietary iron.     

Bone and faecal minerals and scanning electron microscopic assessments of femur in rats fed phytic acid extract from sweet potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ipomoea batatas</Emphasis>)

Phytic acid was extracted from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and fed to Wistar rats with or without zinc for 3 weeks. Animals were then sacrificed and bone and faecal minerals were assessed. The ultra-structure of the bones was examined via scanning electron microscopy. Phytic acid extract or commercial phytic acid supplemented diets (D + Zn + PE or D + PE) displayed reduced bone calcium levels (101.27 ± 59.11 and 119.27 ± 45.36 g/kg) compared to the other test groups. Similarly, reduced calcium were observed in the control groups (D + Zn and D) fed formulated diets with or without zinc supplementation (213.14 ± 15.31 and 210 ± 6.88 g/kg) compared to the other test groups. The group fed supplemented commercial phytic acid diet (D + CP) demonstrated the lowest femur magnesium (3.72 ± 0.13 g/kg) while the group fed phytic acid extract supplementation (D + PE) recorded the highest level (4.84 ± 0.26 g/kg) amongst the groups. Femur iron was highest in the group fed commercial phytic acid supplemented diet (D + CP −115.74 ± 2.41 g/kg) compared to the other groups. Faecal magnesium levels were significantly higher in the two test groups fed phytic acid extract with or without zinc (D + Zn + PE or D + PE) compared to all other groups. All the groups which had phytic acid supplemented diets had significantly thinner bone in the trabecular region, compared to the groups fed formulated diet or zinc supplemented formulated diet (D or D + Zn). These observations suggest that the consumption of foods high in phytic acid may contribute to a reduction in the minerals available for essential metabolic processes in rats.     

植酸酶对中华绒螯蟹幼蟹生长、消化性能及物质利用率的影响

为探讨植酸酶对中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)幼蟹生长、消化性能及物质利用率的影响, 设计了6种配合饲料, 以不含植酸和植酸酶的组别为对照组(C), 在含有10 g/kg植酸的饲料中, 分别加入0、500、1000、1500 U/kg的植酸酶, 分别记为P0、P500、P1000、P1500和P2000。投喂初始体重为(4.34±0.05) g的幼蟹, 56d后称重并取样分析。结果发现: P0幼蟹增重率、特定生长率、蛋白质效率低于对照组, 饲料系数则高于对照组(P<0.05); 幼蟹增重率、特定生长率、蛋白质效率随着饲料中植酸酶含量的增加而升高, 在P2000达到最高, 且该组的饲料系数最低(P<0.05); P1500和P2000全蟹体磷含量显著高于P0 (P<0.05); 在P2000中, 幼蟹肝胰腺中胰蛋白酶、淀粉酶以及肠道胰蛋白酶活力达到最高(P<0.05); 中华绒螯蟹蛋白质消化率和磷透析率随着饲料中植酸酶含量的增加而逐渐升高, 其中P2000显著高于P0(P<0.05), 与对照组无显著差异(P>0.05); P2000幼蟹的氮、磷保留率最高(P<0.05)。以上结果表明, 在含有植酸的饲料中添加2000 U/kg的植酸酶, 能够显著提高幼蟹的生长和胰蛋白酶活力, 进而提高幼蟹对蛋白质的利用率, 降低饲料系数。此外, 植酸酶的添加也能有效提高幼蟹体磷含量和氮/磷保留率。     

Phytase supplementation increases bone mineral density,lean body mass and voluntary physical activity in rats fed a low-zinc diet

Phytic acid forms insoluble complexes with nutritionally essential minerals, including zinc (Zn). Animal studies show that addition of microbial phytase (P) to low-Zn diets improves Zn status and bone strength. The present study determined the effects of phytase supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD), body composition and voluntary running activity of male rats fed a high phytic acid, low-Zn diet. In a factorial design, rats were assigned to ZnLO (5 mg/kg diet), ZnLO+P (ZnLO diet with 1500 U phytase/kg) or ZnAD (30 mg/kg diet) groups and were divided into voluntary exercise (EX) or sedentary (SED) groups, for 9 weeks. SED rats were significantly heavier from the second week, and no catch-up growth occurred in EX rats. Feed intakes were not different between groups throughout the study. ZnLO animals had decreased food efficiency ratios compared to both phytase-supplemented (ZnLO+P) and Zn-adequate (ZnAD) animals (P<.01 compared to ZnLO). The ZnLO+P and ZnAD rats ran 56–75 km more total distance than ZnLO rats (P<.05), with the ZnLO+P rats running more kilometers per week than the ZnLO rats by Week 6. In vivo DEXA analyses indicate that rats fed phytase-supplemented diets had higher lean body mass (LBM) than those fed ZnLO diets; and that rats fed the Zn-adequate diets had the highest LBM. Body fat (%) was significantly lower in EX rats and was both Zn- and phytase insensitive. Rats fed phytase-supplemented diets had higher bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA) and BMD than rats fed ZnLO diets; and in rats fed ZnAD diets these indices were the highest. The dietary effects on BMC, BA and BMD were independent of activity level.We conclude that consuming supplemental dietary phytase or dietary Zn additively enhances Zn status to increase BMD, LBM and voluntary physical activity in rats fed a low-Zn diet. While the findings confirm that bone health is vulnerable to disruption by moderate Zn deficiency in rats, this new data suggests that if dietary Zn is limiting, supplemental phytase may have beneficial effects on LBM and performance activity.     

Effects of dietary phytase on body weight gain, body composition and bone strength in growing rats fed a low-zinc diet

Phytic acid, a major phosphorous storage compound found in foodstuffs, is known to form insoluble complexes with nutritionally essential minerals, including zinc (Zn). Phytases are enzymes that catalyze the removal of these minerals from phytic acid, improving their bioavailability. The objective of the present study was to determine the ability of dietary phytase to affect body weight, body composition, and bone strength in growing rats fed a high phytic acid, low Zn diet. Rats (n = 20) were fed either a control (AIN-93) or phytase supplemented (Natuphos, BASF, 1,500 phytase units (FTU)/kg) diet for a period of 8 weeks. Phytase supplementation resulted in increased (P<.05) bone and plasma Zn, but no change in plasma inorganic phosphorous or bone levels of Ca, Fe, or Mg. The addition of phytase to the diets resulted in a 22.4% increase (P<.05) in body weight at the end of the study as compared with rats fed a control diet. Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) revealed that phytase supplementation resulted in increase lean body mass (LBM, P<.001) and increased bone mineral content (BMC, P<.001) as compared with feeding the control diet. Bone studies indicated that femurs and tibias from phytase supplemented rats had greater mass (P<.05) and were stronger (P<.05) than rats fed the control diet. This data suggest that the addition of phytase to low Zn diets results in improved Zn status, which may be responsible for beneficial effects on growth, body composition, and bone strength.     

Zinc availability from zinc lipoate and zinc sulfate in growing rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc lipoate and zinc sulfate on zinc availability in growing rats. 6 . 6 male albino rats were fed purified diets based on corn starch, egg albumen, sucrose, soy bean oil and cellulose over a 4-week period (diet Ia: 10 mg Zn/kg as zinc sulfate, diet Ib: 10 mg Zn/kg as zinc lipoate, diet IIa: 10 mg Zn/kg as zinc sulfate +0.4% phytic acid, diet IIb: 10 mg Zn/kg as zinc lipoate +0.4% phytic acid, diet IIIa: 20 mg Zn/kg as zinc sulfate + 0.4% phytic acid, diet IIIb: 20 mg Zn/kg as zinc lipoate + 0.4% phytic acid). Zinc lipoate and zinc sulfate both proved to be highly available zinc sources. When 0.4% phytic acid were present in the diets, apparent zinc absorption was generally depressed but was higher from zinc lipoate in tendency than from zinc sulfate. Comparable results were evident for femur zinc, plasma zinc and metallothionein concentrations in liver tissues. This indicates that zinc lipoate could be a valuable zinc source under conditions of low zinc availability. Nevertheless the absence or presence of phytic acid was a more important factor influencing zinc availability than the type of zinc source investigated.     

Degradation of phytate in the gut of pigs ‐ pathway of gastrointestinal inositol phosphate hydrolysis and enzymes involved

The present study gives an overview on the whole mechanism of phytate degradation in the gut and the enzymes involved. Based on the similarity of the human and pigs gut, the study was carried out in pigs as model for humans. To differentiate between intrinsic feed phytases and endogenous phytases hydrolysing phytate in the gut, two diets, one high (control diet) and the other one very low in intrinsic feed phytases (phytase inactivated diet) were applied. In the chyme of stomach, small intestine and colon inositol phosphate isomers and activities of phytases and alkaline phosphatases were determined. In parallel total tract phytate degradation and apparent phosphorus digestibility were assessed. In the stomach chyme of pigs fed the control diet, comparable high phytase activity and strong phytate degradation were observed. The predominant phytate hydrolysis products were inositol phosphates, typically formed by plant phytases. For the phytase inactivated diet, comparable very low phytase activity and almost no phytate degradation in the stomach were determined. In the small intestine and colon, high activity of alkaline phosphatases and low activity of phytases were observed, irrespective of the diet fed. In the colon, stronger phytate degradation for the phytase inactivated diet than for the control diet was detected. Phytate degradation throughout the whole gut was nearly complete and very similar for both diets while the apparent availability of total phosphorus was significantly higher for the pigs fed the control diet than the phytase inactivated diet. The pathway of inositol phosphate hydrolysis in the gut has been elucidated.     

Dietary phytase and myo-inositol supplementation are associated with distinct plasma metabolome profile in broiler chickens

Phytase enzyme is used as a dietary supplement in broiler nutrition to improve phosphorous bioavailability. Phytase deliberates phosphate groups from phytic acid and produces myo-inositol after total dephosphorylation. Myo-inositol is a bioactive compound having beneficial modulatory effects on metabolism in humans. However, it is not well understood if and how phytic acid degradation products, particularly myo-inositol, can modulate metabolism in broiler chicken. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of dietary supplements of phytase and myo-inositol on the blood plasma metabolome profile of broiler chickens. Broilers were provided a nutrient-adequate control diet or the same diet supplemented with either 3.5 g myo-inositol or 500, 1500 or 3000 units of phytase, per kilogram of feed (grower diet). Broilers were group-housed in floor pens (eight pens per diet) and provided one of the treatment diets for 22 days. Then, blood was collected from one bird per pen, resulting in eight replicated measurements per diet. A targeted metabolomics approach was applied to the heparin plasma. Body weight of the birds was not significantly affected by the treatments. Plasma myo-inositol concentrations were significantly increased by myo-inositol supplementation and phytase supplementation at 500 and 1500 units/kg. Metabolites generally affected by phytase supplementation belonged to the groups of acyl-carnitines, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, lysophosphatidylcholine, biogenic amines and amino acids. Compared to the control diet, phytase supplements had significantly higher plasma concentrations of kynurenine and creatinine, but lower concentrations of histamine and cis-4-hydroxyproline. Myo-inositol supplementation significantly increased plasma concentrations of dopamine and serotonine. While some metabolites were similarly affected by myo-inositol and phytase supplementation, others were distinctly differently affected. We conclude that myo-inositol, either as a directly added supplement or indirectly released from phytate upon phytase supplementation, can affect specific metabolic pathways. Additional effects found on phytase supplementation may be related to intermediary phytate degradation products. Results are indicative for innovative hypothesis to be tested in future experiments, for instance, with regard to relationships between phytase or myo-inositol supplements and bird immunity or behaviour.     

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid or betaine on the growth performance and fatty acid composition in backfat and belly fat of finishing pigs fed dried distillers grains with solubles

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or betaine on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition in backfat and belly fat of pigs fed distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Thirty-two (60±2 kg) crossbred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshine) were assigned to one of four diets randomly: (1) the control diet containing no corn DDGS (control group); (2) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS (DDGS-fed group); (3) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 10 g/kg CLA (CLA-fed group); (4) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 1 g/kg BET (BET-fed group). The pigs fed DDGS showed that the percentages of C18:2, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and iodine value (IV) increased, while C18:1, saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) decreased. Pigs fed the DDGS+CLA or DDGS+betaine diets showed the increased percentage of SFA, and the decreased percentage of C18:2, PUFA and IV. In conclusion, results confirmed that the diets containing 30% DDGS had no detrimental effects on growth performance, but increased the percentage of PUFA and IV and decreased the percentage of SFA and MUFA in the backfat and belly fat. However, supplementation with CLA or BET can part reverse these effects on carcass fat in finishing pigs.     

不同添加方式植酸酶处理豆粕对牙鲆生长和饲料利用率的影响

以初始平均体重(2.02±0.02)g的牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)为实验对象,进行为期70d的摄食生长实验,研究不同添加方式的植酸酶对牙鲆生长和饲料利用的影响。在5000.0g豆粕中添加2.5g植酸酶,然后用产朊假丝酵母(Candidautilis)进行发酵预处理,得到植酸酶预处理豆粕。共制作4种等氮等能(粗蛋白49.7%、总能20.9kJ/g)饲料,对照饲料主要以鱼粉为蛋白源;在对照饲料的基础上,用豆粕蛋白替代45%的鱼粉蛋白配制成豆粕组饲料;在每千克豆粕组饲料中添加1000IU植酸酶,配制成植酸酶组饲料;用植酸酶预处理豆粕蛋白替代45%的鱼粉蛋白配制成植酸酶预处理豆粕组饲料。结果表明,与对照组相比较,用豆粕蛋白替代饲料中45%的鱼粉蛋白,若不添加植酸酶则显著降低牙鲆的特定生长率(P0.01)、饲料效率、蛋白质效率和氮贮积率(P0.05);直接添加植酸酶组、植酸酶预处理豆粕组牙鲆的特定生长率、饲料效率、蛋白质效率和氮贮积率与鱼粉对照组相比较没有出现显著差异(P0.05);与不添加植酸酶的豆粕组相比较,在含豆粕饲料中添加1000IU/kg饲料的植酸酶显著提高牙鲆的特定生长率(P0.01)、氮贮积率(P0.05)和磷贮积率(P0.01),显著降低氮排放率(P0.05)和磷排放率(P0.01),但饲料效率和蛋白质效率没有显著变化(P0.05);在豆粕中添加植酸酶进行发酵预处理,降低了豆粕中植酸含量,在饲料中添加植酸酶预处理豆粕显著提高牙鲆的特定生长率(P0.01)、饲料效率、蛋白质效率和氮贮积率(P0.05),显著降低氮(P0.05)、磷和钙的排放率(P0.01)。       

植酸酶对草鱼和新吉富罗非鱼消化酶活性的影响

植酸酶能水解植酸络合物,释放被植酸束缚的各种营养因子,因此能有效解除植酸与内源性消化酶的结合,促进消化酶的作用。本实验在全植物性饲料中添加植酸酶,研究其对草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)和新吉富罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)淀粉酶及蛋白酶比活力的影响。以全植物性饲料为阴性对照组,添加磷酸氢钙(dibasic calcium phosphate,DCP)实验组为阳性对照组,另设4个不同梯度的植酸酶实验组(250 U/kg、500 U/kg、1 000 U/kg和2 000 U/kg)。实验选取健壮、规格齐整平均体质量为(12.59±0.09)g的草鱼和平均体质量为(9.59±0.12)g的新吉富罗非鱼,分别随机分为6个组,每组5个平行,每个平行20尾鱼。养殖8周后,草鱼平均体质量(18.29±0.63)g,新吉富罗非鱼平均体质量为(24.68±1.34)g,抽样取出胃、肠和肝胰脏用来分析淀粉酶和蛋白酶比活力。结果表明,植酸酶对无胃鱼草鱼和有胃鱼罗非鱼淀粉酶及蛋白酶比活力都有显著的促进作用。相比较而言,植酸酶对罗非鱼的应用效果较明显,低剂量就能显著提高其淀粉酶及蛋白酶比活力(P<0.05)。当植酸酶添加量达到1 000 U/kg时,草鱼和罗非鱼淀粉酶及蛋白酶比活力均达到峰值,此时,罗非鱼淀粉酶和蛋白酶比活力与阳性对照组无显著差异(P>0.05),而草鱼肝胰脏蛋白酶比活力显著高于阳性对照组(P<0.05)。植酸酶2 000 U/kg实验组,罗非鱼淀粉酶和蛋白酶比活力与1 000 U/kg植酸酶实验组无显著差异(P>0.05),但草鱼肝胰脏蛋白酶比活力显著低于1 000 U/kg植酸酶实验组(P<0.05)。因此,本实验条件下,植酸酶在草鱼和新吉富罗非鱼全植物性蛋白质配合饲料中的适宜添加量均为1 000 U/kg,生产实践中可通过添加植酸酶部分替代无机磷源。     

Yogurt protects against growth retardation in weanling rats fed diets high in phytic acid

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of adding yogurt to animal diets that were high in phytic acid (PA) and adequate in zinc (38 μg Zn/g). The PA:Zn molar ratio was 60:1. Zinc status was determined by documenting growth and measuring the zinc concentration in bone (tibia) and plasma. For 25 days, six groups (n=6) of Sprague–Dawley weanling rats were fed one of six AIN-76 diets. Half of the diets contained PA. Four of the diets contained yogurt with either active or heat-treated (inactive) cultures added at 25% of the diet. The diets were as follows: (a) AIN, (b) AIN with active yogurt, (c) AIN and inactive yogurt, (d) AIN with PA, (e) AIN with PA plus active yogurt and (f) AIN with PA plus inactive yogurt. Body weight, weight gain and zinc concentration in bone and plasma were measured, and food efficiency ratio was calculated. Rats fed diets with PA and yogurt had normal growth compared to the control group. Growth retardation was evident in the group fed the diet with PA and no yogurt. This group had significantly lower body weight compared to all other groups (P<.05). Rats fed diets with PA, with or without yogurt, had significantly lower zinc concentration in bone and plasma (P<.05). Adding yogurt to diets high in PA resulted in normal growth in weanling rats; however, zinc concentration in bone and plasma was still suboptimal.     

Calcium exacerbates the inhibitory effects of phytic acid on zinc bioavailability in rats

BackgroundComplementary feeding of breastfed infants with foods high in bioavailable zinc (Zn) can help meet physiological requirements for Zn. Some infant cereals contain high concentrations of phytic acid (PA) and calcium (Ca) that may reduce absorbable Zn.ObjectivesThis study measured PA, Zn and Ca concentrations in selected infant cereals sold in Canada and investigated the effects of dietary PA and Ca at concentrations present in infant cereals on Zn bioavailability in rats.Methods and resultsMale Sprague-Dawley rats (36-day old) were fed a control diet containing normal Zn (29.1 mg/kg) and Ca (4.95 g/kg) or six test diets (n = 12/diet group). Test diets were low in Zn (8.91–9.74 mg/kg) and contained low (2.16–2.17 g/kg), normal (5.00–5.11 g/kg) or high (14.6–14.9 g/kg) Ca without or with added PA (8 g/kg). After 2 weeks, rats were killed and Zn status of the rats was assessed. PA, Zn and Ca concentrations in infant cereals (n = 20) differed widely. PA concentrations ranged from undetectable to 16.0 g/kg. Zn and Ca concentrations ranged from 7.0–29.1 mg/kg and 0.8–13.4 g/kg, respectively. The [PA]/[Zn] and [PA × Ca]/[Zn] molar ratios in infants cereals with detectable PA (16 of 20 cereals) ranged from 22–75 and 0.9–14.9 mol/kg, respectively, predicting low Zn bioavailability. Body weight, body composition (lean and fat mass), right femur weight and length measurements and Zn concentrations in serum and femur indicated that diets higher in Ca had a more pronounced negative effect on Zn status of rats fed a PA-supplemented diet. Addition of PA to the diet had a greater negative effect on Zn status when Ca concentration in the diet was higher.ConclusionThese results show that, in rats, higher concentrations of dietary Ca and PA interact to potentiate a decrease in bioavailable Zn and may suggest lower Zn bioavailability in infant cereals with higher PA and Ca concentrations.     

Effects of soluble corn bran arabinoxylans on cecal digestion, lipid metabolism, and mineral balance (Ca, Mg) in rats

The effects of soluble corn bran arabinoxylans on cecal digestion, lipid metabolism, and mineral utilization [calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)] were investigated in rats adapted to semipurified diets. The diets provided either 710 g/kg wheat starch alone (control) or 610 g/kg wheat starch plus 100 g/kg corn soluble fiber (arabinoxylans) and either 0 or 2 g/kg cholesterol (control + cholesterol and arabinoxylans + cholesterol, respectively). Compared with rats fed the control diets, rats fed the arabinoxylan diets had significant cecal hypertrophy (+50% after 3 days of the fiber adaptation) and an accumulation of short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic acid (up to 45% in molar percentage). Arabinoxylans enhanced the cecal absorption of Ca and Mg (from 0.07 to 0.19 micromol/min for Ca and from 0.05 to 0.23 micromol/min for Mg). Mg balance was enhanced by arabinoxylans (+25%). The arabinoxylan diet markedly reduced the cholesterol absorption from 50% of ingested cholesterol in controls up to approximately 15% in rats adapted to the arabinoxylans diet. Arabinoxylans were effective in lowering plasma cholesterol (approximately -20%). There was practically no effect of the diets on cholesterol in d > 1.040 lipoproteins (high density lipoproteins) whereas arabinoxylans were very effective in depressing cholesterol in d < 1.040 lipoproteins (especially in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins). Corn fermentable fiber decreased the accumulation of cholesterol in the liver. In parallel, the arabinoxylan diet counteracted the downregulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA by cholesterol. These data suggest that arabinoxylans may have a great impact on intestinal fermentation, mineral utilization, and cholesterol metabolism.     

Zinc availability and digestive zinc solubility in piglets and broilers fed diets varying in their phytate contents, phytase activity and supplemented zinc source

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary zinc addition (0 or 15 mg/kg of Zn as inorganic or organic zinc) to three maize-soybean meal basal diets varying in their native Zn, phytic P contents and phytase activity (expressed in kg of feed: P- with 25 mg Zn and 1.3 g phytic P, P+ with 38 mg Zn and 2.3 g phytic P or P+/ENZ being P+ including 500 units (FTU) of microbial phytase per kg) in two monogastric species (piglets, broilers). Measured parameters were growth performance, zinc status (plasma, and bone zinc) and soluble zinc in digesta (stomach, gizzard and intestine). The nine experimental diets were fed for 20 days either to weaned piglets (six replicates per treatment) or to 1-day-old broilers (10 replicates per treatment). Animal performance was not affected by dietary treatments (P > 0.05) except that all P- diets improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in piglets (P < 0.05). Piglets fed P- diets had a better Zn status than those fed P+ diets (P < 0.05). In both species, Zn status was improved with supplemental Zn (P < 0.05), irrespective of Zn source. Phytase supplementation improved piglet Zn status to a higher extent than adding dietary Zn, whereas in broilers, phytase was less efficient than supplemental Zn. Digestive Zn concentrations reflected the quantity of ingested Zn. Soluble Zn (mg/kg dry matter) and Zn solubility (% of total Zn content) were highest in gizzard contents, which also presented lower pH values than stomach or intestines. The intestinal Zn solubility was higher in piglet fed organic Zn than those fed inorganic Zn (P < 0.01). Phytase increased soluble Zn in piglet stomach (P < 0.001) and intestine (P = 0.1), but not in broiler gizzard and intestinal contents. These results demonstrate (i) that dietary zinc was used more efficiently by broilers than by piglets, most probably due to the lower gizzard pH and its related higher zinc solubility; (ii) that zinc supplementation, irrespective of zinc source, was successful in improving animal's zinc status; and (iii) suggest that supplemented Zn availability was independent from the diet formulation. Finally, the present data confirm that phytase was efficient in increasing digestive soluble Zn and improving zinc status in piglets. However, the magnitude of these effects was lower in broilers probably due to the naturally higher Zn availability in poultry than in swine.     

Diet shapes the ability of human intestinal microbiota to degrade phytate – in vitro studies

Aims

Investigation of intestinal bacterial groups involved in phytate degradation and the impact of diets with different phytate contents on phytase activity.

Methods and Results

Faecal samples of adults on conventional (n = 8) or vegetarian (n = 8) diets and breastfed infants (n = 6) were used as an inoculum for modified media supplemented with phytate. Populations of Gram‐positive anaerobes (GPA), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Proteobacteria–Bacteroides (P‐B), coliforms and anaerobes were studied. The PCR‐DGGE analysis revealed a random distribution of DGGE profiles in the dendrograms of GPA, P‐B and coliforms, and a partially diet‐specific distribution in the DGGE dendrograms of LAB and anaerobes. The degradation of phytic acid (PA) was determined with HPLC method in supernatants of the cultures. Regardless of the diet, the Gram‐positive anaerobes and LAB displayed the lowest ability to degrade phytate, whereas the coliforms and P‐B cultures produced higher amounts of intermediate myo‐inositol phosphates. Bacterial populations grown in a nonselective medium were the most effective ones in phytate degradation. It was the vegetarians' microbiota that particularly degraded up to 100% phytate to myo‐inositol phosphate products lower than InsP₃.

Conclusions

A diet rich in phytate increases the potential of intestinal microbiota to degrade phytate. The co‐operation of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria is essential for the complete phytate degradation.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study provides insights on the effect of diet on specific metabolic activity of human intestinal microbiota.     

Effect of microbial phytase on apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of phosphorus-adequate diets in growing pigs

Six ileally cannulated pigs (mean initial body weight 34.8 kg) were used to study the effect of microbial phytase on apparent ileal digestibility of P, total N and amino acids. Three P-adequate diets (digestible P concentration 2.3 g kg(- )l) containing barley (B), soyabean meal (S) or a mixture of the two (BS) with or without phytase supplement (1000 FTU x kg(-1)) were fed to pigs using a 6 x 6 Latin square design. The addition of phytase increased (p < 0.05) apparent ileal P digestibility of diets B, S and BS by 16.5, 19.2 and 19.2%, respectively. There was no effect of phytase on the ileal digestibility of total N. Apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids tended to increase in the BS diet supplemented with phytase (mean improvement of 2.2%); but no significant difference was found for any amino acid as compared with the unsupplemented diet. To asses the additivity of apparent amino acid digestibility, the determined values for the BS diet were compared to those calculated from digestibilities found in diets B and S. There were no significant differences between the determined and calculated values. It is concluded that the addition of microbial phytase to P-adequate diets does not affect ileal amino acid digestibility in growing pigs and that the apparent amino acid digestibility values determined in single ingredients may be additive when included into a complex diet.     

Dietary carbohydrate influences tissue fatty acid and lipid composition in the copper-deficient rat

Fructose and copper have been shown independently to influence long chain fatty acid metabolism. Since fructose feeding exacerbates copper deficiency, their possible interaction with respect to tissue long chain fatty acid and lipid composition was studied. Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were given diets containing 0.6 or 6 mg/kg copper. The carbohydrate source (627 g/kg) was either fructose or corn starch. After 3 wk, fatty acid profiles and total lipids in heart and liver were analyzed. Copper-deficient rats fed fructose had more severe signs of copper deficiency than those fed starch, according to heart/body wt ratio, hematocrit, and liver copper content. The fatty acid composition of heart and liver triacylglycerol was significantly different between groups, but the changes did not correlate with the severity of copper deficiency. In heart, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine, arachidonic acid and docosapentaenoic acid (n-6) were increased 193 and 217%, respectively, p<0.05) in rats given the copper-deficient diet containing fructose. Changes in the long chain fatty acids in heart phospholipids may be related to the higher mortality commonly observed in rats fed a copper-deficient diet containing fructose.     

Microbial phytase addition resulted in a greater increase in phosphorus digestibility in dry-fed compared with liquid-fed non-heat-treated wheat–barley–maize diets for pigs

The objective was to evaluate the effect of microbial phytase (1250 FTU/kg diet with 88% dry matter (DM)) on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of phosphorus (P) in pigs fed a dry or soaked diet. Twenty-four pigs (65±3 kg) from six litters were used. Pigs were housed in metabolism crates and fed one of four diets for 12 days; 5 days for adaptation and 7 days for total, but separate collection of feces and urine. The basal diet was composed of wheat, barley, maize, soybean meal and no mineral phosphate. Dietary treatments were: basal dry-fed diet (BDD), BDD with microbial phytase (BDD+phy), BDD soaked for 24 h at 20°C before feeding (BDS) and BDS with microbial phytase (BDS+phy). Supplementation of microbial phytase increased ATTD of DM and crude protein (N×6.25) by 2 and 3 percentage units (P<0.0001; P<0.001), respectively. The ATTD of P was affected by the interaction between microbial phytase and soaking (P=0.02). This was due to a greater increase in ATTD of P by soaking of the diet containing solely plant phytase compared with the diet supplemented with microbial phytase: 35%, 65%, 44% and 68% for BDD, BDD+phy, BSD and BSD+phy, respectively. As such, supplementation of microbial phytase increased ATTD of P in the dry-fed diet, but not in the soaked diet. The higher ATTD of P for BDS compared with BDD resulted from the degradation of 54% of the phytate in BDS by wheat and barley phytases during soaking. On the other hand, soaking of BDS+phy did not increase ATTD of P significantly compared with BDD+phy despite that 76% of the phytate in BDS+phy was degraded before feeding. In conclusion, soaking of BDS containing solely plant phytase provided a great potential for increasing ATTD of P. However, this potential was not present when microbial phytase (1250 FTU/kg diet) was supplemented, most likely because soaking of BDS+phy for 24 h at 20°C did not result in a complete degradation of phytate before feeding.