A Review of the Effect of Formic Acid and Its Salts on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Performance of Pigs

Abstract

Out of the alternatives to antibiotics and zinc oxide, organic acids, or simply acidifiers, play significant roles, especially in ensuring gut health and the growth performance of pigs. Regarding acidifiers, formic acid and its salts have shown very promising results in weaning, growing and finishing pigs. Although it is known that the main mechanisms by which acidifiers can improve livestock performance and health are related to the regulation of gastrointestinal pH, an improvement in intestinal digestibility and mineral utilization, and their antimicrobial properties against specific pathogens has been observed, while poor consensus remains in relation to the effect of acidifers on bacteria and the complex microbiome. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to critically evaluate the effects of formic acid and its salts on the performance and the gastrointestinal microbiota balance of pigs.

Deploying anin vitrogut model to assay the impact of a mannan-oligosaccharide prebiotic, Bio-Mos® on the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) gut microbiome

“…It has also been associated with healthy gut histological development and enhanced growth in fish and shellfish (da Silva et al, 2016;Wassef et al, 2020). Formic acid, although frequently deployed as an acidifier in monogastrics to limit the growth of enteric pathogens (Luise et al, 2020), is not known to directly impact host phenotype. Similarly, except as the rare genetic disorder that occurs in humans, isovaleric acidemia, where the compound accumulates at high levels in the absence of isovaleric acid-CoA dehydrogenase activity in host tissues (Vockley & Ensenauer, 2006), isovaleric (3-methylbutanoic) acid is not expected to directly impact host phenotype either.…”

Deploying andin vitrogut model to assay the impact of a mannan-oligosaccharide prebiotic, Bio-MOS® on the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) gut microbiome

“…Propionate is commonly absorbed and metabolised by the liver, where it impacts host physiology via regulation of energy metabolism in humans (El Hage et al, 2020) and is associated with healthy gut histological development and enhanced growth in fish and shellfish (da Silva et al, 2016;Wassef et al, 2020). Formic acid, although frequently deployed as an acidifier in monogastrics to limit the growth of enteric pathogens (Luise et al, 2020), is not known to directly impact host phenotype. Similarly, isovaleric (3methylbutanoic) acid is not known to directly impact host phenotype, except as the rare genetic disorder that occurs in humans, isovaleric acidemia, where the compound accumulates at high levels in the absence of isovaleric acid-CoA dehydrogenase activity in host tissues (Vockley & Ensenauer, 2006).…”

Timely Control of Gastrointestinal Eubiosis: A Strategic Pillar of Pig Health

“…Organic acids have been widely used for decades in pig feed as a preserver of feed nutritional qualities [133]. Previous reviews have analyzed the effect of several single and mixed organic acids on post-weaning microbial composition [134,135]. The effects of organic acids in the modulation of intestinal microbiota in post-weaning piglets have been mainly ascribed to their capacity to reduce the pH of the stomach.…”

“…The effects of organic acids in the modulation of intestinal microbiota in post-weaning piglets have been mainly ascribed to their capacity to reduce the pH of the stomach. The gastric environment plays a pivotal role in the modulation of intestinal environments since it acts as an ecological filter, reducing the proliferation of bacteria sensitive to a low pH and acid resistant microbes, including lactic acid bacteria [135,136]. The most recent results of the most common organic acid supply on the gut microbiota of post-weaning piglets are reported in Table 1.…”

“…It is known that diet is one of the main factors affecting the microbial profile, there are several reviews dealing with feeding strategies, especially regarding feed additives as gut microbial modulators [117,134,135,141]. However, to avoid redundancy with other reviews specifically focused on nutrients, feed additives and feeding strategies as gut microbial modulators, the authors present an overview of the most promising feeding interventions which modulate the gut microbiota.…”