Olive Bioactives with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity help improve intestinal health and resilience in livestock. They modulate cytokine expression, enhance oxidative balance, and support tight junction proteins, improving nutrient absorption. Olive by-products rich in polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol offer environmental and nutritional value. Studies show reduced crypt depth and inflammation with dietary inclusion, supporting gut integrity and production efficiency.
Head of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Lucta
When analyzing the main challenges in animal production, it is not difficult to identify the factors that will pose significant handicaps for this industry in the future.
The continuous changes in feeding practices, driven by the search for alternative ingredients, anti-nutritional factors and mycotoxins, unresolved digestive diseases within the intestinal environment (e.g., coccidiosis), and extreme temperatures caused by climate change all contribute to increasing difficulty in meeting the requirements for animal welfare, efficiency, and the quality of livestock products that reach the consumer’s table.
In addition to a high-level biosecurity status and an optimal preventive program, the key lies in maintaining the intestinal environment free from unnecessary inflammatory processes and avoiding oxidative imbalance, which can lead to poor digestive function. In a few words, it is necessary to increase the resilience to face the continuous challenges.
Olive Bioactives, with well-described antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, can play a beneficial role in this context. Lucta, a Spanish company specializing in animal nutrition, has developed feed additives based on Olive Bioactives.
OLIVE AND OLIVE OIL PRODUCTION
Spain is the largest producer of olives and olive oil, according to data provided by the International Olive Council. This fact also leads to an extraordinary production of olive by-products (leaves, pomace, olive mill wastewaters, etc.), which may pose an environmental threat. However, these by-products, still rich in Olive Bioactives, are now regarded as a potential source of valuable products in various human sectors, as well as in the animal feed industry, representing an example of a circular economy.
The benefits of olive oil are well known, as it is a key component of the Mediterranean diet, recognized for its protection against heart problems, a lower incidence of cancer-related diseases, and improved intestinal health.
These benefits are attributed not only to the healthier fatty acid profile of olive oil but to the presence of highly active small molecules with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well. Among them, polyphenols (e.g., hydroxytyrosol) and pentacyclic triterpenes (e.g., maslinic acid and oleanolic acid) have been described as the most abundant in the olive fruit.
The livestock are exposed to stressors present in our current production systems (nutritional, environmental, immunological, and social), that can trigger or exacerbate different physiological disorders, especially in the digestive system, manifested through complex inflammatory processes and oxidative stress.
But what causes inflammation and oxidative stress on the intestinal mucosa, and what are the consequences for nutrient absorption?
Continuous aggression to the intestinal mucosa caused by dietary changes, anti-nutritional factors, heat stress, and the replication of certain intestinal parasites and bacteria, such as coccidia and clostridium, leads to disruption of the intestinal epithelium and altered permeability. As a result, nutrient absorption by enterocytes is compromised.
On the other hand, these conditions cause an imbalance between the oxidative products naturally generated in the body (e.g. Reactive Oxygen Species) and the natural mechanism of oxidative defense (e.g., Catalase). This imbalance results in an excessive concentration of harmful radicals inside the cell, with an immense capacity to damage and destroy cells at a higher rate than the tissue capacity for regeneration. Apart from intestinal tissue damage, it can also contribute, among other factors, to the development of certain myopathies that may affect meat quality.
The greatest concern is the chronic nature of the inflammatory phenomenon, which remains subclinical in most cases, without evident alarm signs of its presence. This chronic condition results in reduced growth, altered muscle catabolism, and activation of the immune system. Additionally, the intestinal permeability is also imbalanced, negatively affecting nutrient absorption and increasing the incidence of watery feces. The practical consequences are decreased production efficiency and poor animal welfare.
HEAT STRESS AND ITS PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES
An increase in ambient temperature can also modify feed consumption patterns due to the metabolic heat produced by absorption and digestion. The main consequence is a reduction in feed intake as well as in nutrient absorption. Furthermore, during the heat stress phase, blood flow shifts from the intestine to the periphery, generating hypoxia in the intestinal epithelial cells. This decreased blood flow, along with reduced intestinal transit, compromises intestinal integrity and barrier function, allowing harmful components and pathogenic microorganisms to flow from the intestine to the bloodstream. All of this is associated with an increase in plasma markers of enterotoxemia, hypoxia, and inflammation, which can contribute to multi-organ failure. Therefore, one of the organs most affected by heat stress is the gastrointestinal tract and associated organs (e.g., the liver).
NEW ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-OXIDATIVE APPROACH
The use of certain components of Olive Bioactives has demonstrated a recognizable anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative action through in vitro studies in various cellular models and other in vivo studies.
There are different markers for assessing intestinal health. Each provides specific information and behaves in a complementary manner. Some authors have reviewed the most appropriate biomarkers for this assessment.
Immune system / The role of cytokines
Cytokines are specific proteins that act as inflammatory mediators, either triggering (pro-inflammatory) or resolving (anti-inflammatory) inflammation. In vivo studies in broilers have demonstrated that Olive Bioactives have the capacity to modulate both local and systemic inflammatory responses. A reduction in the expression of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8) and an increase in others with anti-inflammatory activity (TGF-β4) have been observed after dietary inclusion of these Olive Bioactives. (Figure 1)
Herrero-Encinas et al., 2020a (Poult. Sci.)
Oxidative balance
Normally, within the organism, oxidizing agents (R.O.S. = Reactive Oxygen Species) are produced, along with mechanisms that block these oxidants (Catalase). Various challenges (mycotoxins, poor quality of certain ingredients, heat stress, among others) can cause an imbalance between the generation of these oxidizing agents and the neutralization rate. This imbalance is called oxidative stress and leads, among other causes, to an increase in cell breakdown.
In certain in vitro tests, Olive Bioactives have demonstrated their ability to reduce oxidative stress and increase the expression of Catalase, even in challenging conditions. (Figure 2)
Cellular permeability
On the other hand, in vitro studies conducted on an intestinal cell model (IPEC-J2) have demonstrated the positive effects of Olive Bioactives in increasing the relative expression of tight junction proteins such as occludin and claudins, even under an inflammatory challenge (LPS). This may help the intestinal barrier to properly act as a selective barrier, allowing efficient nutrient absorption while harmful pathogens are kept away. (Figure 3)
Intestinal integrity
From a histological perspective, crypt depth has been directly related to intestinal cell renewal, with damaged intestines showing increasing crypt depth as a sign of increased cell turnover due to the death of damaged cells. A lower depth in crypts is associated with better nutrient absorption.
Studies conducted by Lucta showed a decrease in crypt depth in diets supplemented with Olive Bioactives after challenging the animals with a fasting period of x 15.5 hours, evidencing the intestinal cell protection of Olive Bioactives. (Figure 4)
CONCLUSION
The reduction of the inflammatory status influences structural factors that, in turn, generate improved intestinal absorption of nutrients and water. Proper absorption will improve zootechnical results but, also important, will contribute to avoid specific problems in broiler production such as wet litter, an issue closely related to welfare.
Improvement of gut integrity will also lead to better zootechnical results together with other aspects of health and welfare.
This fact positions Olive Bioactives as ideal additives for strategies aimed at increasing the health and quality of poultry and other livestock products.
References
1. Effects of a bioactive olive pomace extract from Olea europaea on growth performance, gut function, and intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens. Herrero-Encinas, M. Blanch, J.J.Pastor and others, 2020a, Pouyltry Science 99 (1):2-10
2. Diet Supplementation with a Bioactive Pomace Extract from Olea europaea Partially Mitigates Negative Effects on Gut Health Arising from a Short-Term Fasting Period in Broiler Chickens. Herrero-Encinas, M. Blanch, J.J.Pastor and D. Menoyo, 2020b, Animalsce 10:349
About Dr. Jose J. Pastor
Holding a PhD in Organic Chemistry, Dr. Jose J. Pastor has dedicated over 20 years to research and innovation in the life sciences. Since 2013, he has been leading the Bioactives and Molecular Biology Unit within Lucta’s Innovation Division, where he focuses on developing next-generation functional additives. His work centers on the analysis of biomarkers and the exploration of phytogenic bioactives designed to support the physiological condition of animals.
