Use of Organic Acids as a Model to Study the Impact of Gut Microflora on Nutrition and Metabolism

By J. Dibner, P. Buttin. 2002

659 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract Approvals for the use of nontherapeutic antibiotics in animal feed are fast disappearing worldwide. The primary effect of antibiotics is antimicrobial; all of the digestibility and performance effects can by explained by their impact on the gastrointestinal microflora. Among the candidate replacements for antibiotics are organic acids, both individual acids and blends of several acids. Like antibiotics, short-chain organic acids also have a specific antimicrobial activity. Unlike antibiotics, the antimicrobial activity of organic acids is pH dependent. Organic acids have a clear and significant benefit in weanling piglets and have been observed to benefit poultry performance. Organic acids have antimicrobial activity; however, there appear to be effects of organic acids beyond those attributed to antimicrobial activity. Reductions in bacteria are associated with feeding organic acids, which are particularly effective against acid-intolerant species such as E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter. Both antibiotics and organic acids improve protein and energy digestibilities by reducing microbial competition with the host for nutrients and endogenous nitrogen losses, by lowering the incidence of subclinical infections and secretion of immune mediators, and by reducing production of ammonia and other growth-depressing microbial metabolites. Organic acids have several additional effects that go beyond those of antibiotics. These include reduction in digesta pH, increased pancreatic secretion, and trophic effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa. Much more is known about these effects in swine than in poultry. There appears to be more variability in detecting an organic acid benefit in comparison to that observed with antibiotics. Lack of consistency in demonstrating an organic acid benefit is related to uncontrolled variables such as buffering capacity of dietary ingredients, presence of other antimicrobial compounds, cleanliness of the production environment, and heterogeneity of gut microbiota. Additional research can clarify the role of these factors and how to minimize their impact.

Subfields: Animal Science and Zoology, Immunology, Pollution

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/6c7ebbc43ac338a6827faf3617de93262b040fd2

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Animal Science and Zoology

In Immunology

In Pollution

Citations in the corpus

Performance of Broilers Fed Diets Supplemented with Sanguinarine-Like Alkaloids and Organic Acids (2008, background): “Short-chain organic acids have also been added in animal feeds as antimicrobial agents [14, 15].”
Antibiotic growth promoters in agriculture: history and mode of action. (2005, background): “Among the candidates for replacement, organic acids appear to have the most widespread acceptance at this time (Dibner and Buttin, 2002; Dibner, 2003).”
Growth performance, digestibility, immune response and intestinal morphology of male broilers fed phosphorus deficient diets supplemented with microbial phytase and organic acids (2013, background): “García et al. (2007) stated that supplementation of an acidifier increased VH, and CD; however, villus surface area was not influenced.”
Phytogenic additives and organic acids in broiler chicken diets (2012, background): “Additionally, undissociated organic acids can penetrate the lipid membrane of the bacterial cell and decrease intracellular pH, which leads to death (Ricke, 2003), in addition to stimulating pancreatic secretion and providing better intestinal villus integrity (Dibner & Buttin, 2002).”
Benefits of Dietary Butyric Acid, Sodium Butyrate, and Their Protected Forms in Aquafeeds: A Review (2020, background): “This acidifies the cytoplasm and suppresses several enzymatic reactions within the cells involved in nutrient transport, causing bacterial cell death (Dibner and Buttin 2002).”
Alternatives to antibiotics for maximizing growth performance and feed efficiency in poultry: a review (2017, background): “acids, and the buffering capacity of other dietary ingredients (Dibner and Buttin, 2002; Kim et al., 2015).”
Necrotic enteritis; a continuing challenge for the poultry industry (2006, background): “…Alter the GIT, produce toxins and alter Fink-Gremmels, 2005 nutrient requirements Dietary organic Alter pH in the GIT and thus microflora Dibner and Buttin, 2002 and inorganic acids Diet and Alters gene regulation and transit/residence Kita et al., 2005 nutrient intake time in the GIT”
Effect of Dietary Organic Acid Supplementation on Egg Production, Egg Quality and Some Blood Serum Parameters in Laying Hens (2008, result): “and jumbo egg size showed a decreased percentage These results are in agreement with Jensen and Chang and X large egg size exhibited a surprising increase of (1976), Gama et al. (2000) they concluded that organic its production with the higher organic acid acid supplementation has positive effects o”
Exploring alternatives to antibiotics as health promoting agents in poultry - a review. (2016, background): “Other carboxylic acids used include citric, lactic, fumaric, malic and tartaric acids (Dibner & Buttin, 2002).”
Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Organic Acids on Performance, Nutrients Digestibility and Health of Broiler Chicks (2011, background): “Thus, dietary OAs can suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria, encourage the growth of beneficial microflora and ensure that the enzymes function is at maximal capacity (Broek, 2000; Dibner and Winter, 2002; Ricke, 2003; Dibner, 2004).”