ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2026 59 Nucleotides help modulate hemolymph metabolites, including glucose and total protein, providing the critical energetic support required to maintain physiological homeostasis during periods of extreme stress (Yong et al., 2020). Intestinal morphological development Nucleotides are essential substrates for rapidly dividing tissues, particularly the intestinal mucosa. In shrimp, nucleotide supplementation significantly increases the height and width of intestinal villi, as well as microvilli height (Xiong et al., 2018). These structural enhancement expand the absorptive surface area, optimizing nutrient utilization and strengthening the intestinal barrier to prevent pathogen invasion (Xiong et al., 2018). BROILER: MAXIMIZING EARLY GROWTH The interdependence of early growth and gut development In commercial broiler production, maximizing early growth is a primary objective. However, achieving this high genetic growth potential depends fundamentally on the rapid early development of the gastrointestinal tract (Jung & Batal, 2012). A well‑developed small intestine with an intact mucosal structure is essential for efficient nutrient digestion and absorption (Kreuz et al., 2020). Therefore, early growth and gut health are not competing priorities; rather the rapid establishment of robust gut integrity is the prerequisite for achieving maximal early growth. Impact of environmental stress on gut health and performance In modern intensive farming systems, broilers are frequently exposed to environmental stressors - such as high stocking densities - which impair physiological function and intestinal health (Kamel et al., 2021). These stressors induce significant morphological damage, including reduced villus height and mucosal thickness, which severely hinders nutrient absorption (Kamel et al., 2021). This deterioration directly translates into stunted early growth, reduced weight gain, and an increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) (Kamel et al., 2021). Accelerating early growth through nucleotide supplementation Functional nucleotide supplementation is an effective nutritional strategy to rapidly establish gut health and counteract stress‑induced growth depression. Nucleotide supplementation significantly increases intestinal villus height and the villus height:crypt depth ratio during the critical starter phase (e.g., 0-14 or 7-20 days of age) (Jung & Batal, 2012; Kreuz et al., 2020). This morphological improvement expands the absorptive surface area, enabling chicks to utilize nutrients more efficiently. Direct performance improvements and barrier integrity Rapid intestinal development translates into superior early growth metrics. Broilers fed nucleotide‑supplemented diets show significantly higher daily weight gain and improved FCR during critical early phases (Jung & Batal, 2012; Kreuz et al., 2020). Furthermore, nucleotides upregulate the expression of tight junction genes such as ZO‑1 and Occludin, strengthening the intestinal barrier against pathogens and maintaining homeostasis during rapid growth (Wu et al., 2018). THE BIOAVAILABILITY GAP: WHY PURIFIED IMP OUTPERFORMS YEAST SOURCES While yeast-derived nucleotides are a common choice in market, not all sources offer the same effiPhoto: CJ-BIO
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