ISSUE FOCUS 70 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2026 Microencapsulation is one of the technologies that address the standardization and bioavailability challenges. It protects volatile compounds from degradation during feed processing and storage, with encapsulated essential oils showing significantly higher retention compared to unprotected forms (Stevanović et al., 2018). By creating a protective barrier around active ingredients, microencapsulation enables controlled release in specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract, improving absorption efficiency and reducing dose variability (Bringas-Lantigua et al., 2011). The technology also masks unpalatable flavors that can reduce feed intake while standardizing active ingredient concentrations through precise manufacturing processes (Gharsallaoui et al., 2007). Studies demonstrate that spray-dried microencapsulated essential oils achieve encapsulation efficiencies exceeding 93% with minimal loss during storage (Hu et al., 2020), and can be engineered for enzyme-mediated release to ensure bioactive delivery at optimal intestinal sites (Elolimy et al., 2025). MECHANISTIC SYNTHESIS: AN INTEGRATED MODEL The evidence indicates that both AGPs and phytomolecules operate through an integrated network of effects: 1. Primary Level: Selective antimicrobial effects modify gut microbiota composition 2. Secondary Level: Reduced microbial metabolites (ammonia, endotoxins) decrease inflammatory signaling 3. Tertiary Level: Reduced inflammation conserves energy for growth; enhanced barrier function improves nutrient absorption 4. Quaternary Level: Mitochondrial hormesis and metabolic optimization increase energy efficiency 5. Systemic Level: Improved immunometabolic homeostasis supports optimal growth This integrative model explains why multiple antibiotics with different mechanisms produce similar growth outcomes: they converge on common pathways regulating immunometabolism and mitochondrial function (Fernández Miyakawa et al., 2024). Phytomolecules operate through the same mechanistic framework but with potential advantages: • Multiple bioactive compounds providing redundancy • Antioxidant effects enhancing stress resilience • Lower AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) selection pressure • Potential prebiotic-like effects supporting beneficial microbiota SAFETY AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS Antibiotic exposure significantly disrupts gut microbiota diversity and stability, with effects persist-
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