SPECIAL STORY 50 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2021 “NO ANTIBIOTICS” means increased need for emulsification! Fat digestion is influenced by many factors (e.g. fat source, age). Less attention is given to the effect of the microflora. Considering the literature work stated it should be an important factor to take into account. Rearing animals in antibiotic-free systems is a challenge. A big question is how to deal with increased pathogenic pressure and optimize gut health. When disbalanced, the microflora can have a big impact on the digestibility of nutrients. Fat digestibility, in particular, will be affected to a large extent by bacteria that impair the function of bile acids, vital components of the fat digestibility apparatus. These bacteria are more pronounced in disbalanced gastro-intestinal tracts and form especially a threat when the usage of antibiotics is limited. Low fat digestibility will imply a loss of energy which will not be available for growth. To counteract this suboptimal situation a nutritional emulsifier can be added to the diet. This additive does not only safe costs in healthy animals but also supports flocks with intestinal health issues. BILE ACIDS AS NATURAL EMULSIFIERS Fat digestion is to a large extent dependent on bile acids, next to pancreatic lipase and colipase. Bile acids, synthesized in liver cells, will act at the lipid/water interface and help in the formation of micelles, sphere-like aggregates of fat in water. Bile acid-containing micelles augment the activity of lipase towards the digestion of lipids. Prior to secretion in the intestine, conjugation with taurine or glycine takes place in liver cells to form conjugated bile acids (figure 1). Only conjugated bile acids are able to act efficiently as an emulsifier. The unconjugated forms are insoluble in water due to their specific molecular structure and subsequent acid-base properties. They will be excreted in feces. Both commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic intestinal bacteria are capable of hydrolyzing the amide bond and remove glycine and taurine. Clostridium perfringens, for example, was shown to Brecht Bruneel Orffa Additives B.V.
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