Anti-nutritional effect of phytates – extraphosphoric effect of phytase

Abstract

The increase of animal and poultry production can be achieved by the effective use of fodder, including vegetable feed. However, it is known that the vegetable feed can contain anti-nutrients (phytic acid or its salts). They reduce the nutrient availability in the diet. That is why, the research aim is the description of the phytate influence on the body and the definition of the right feed phytases for fodder production. Phosphorus is responsible for the energy supply to the body for metabolic processes. It plays a significant role in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It takes part in the synthesis of enzymes, hormones, vitamins. Phosphorus ensures the stability of the skeleton of animals along with calcium. However, the predominant part of phosphorus is not available for animals in the vegetable feed as it is presented by phytates, which do not split in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of animals. When phytates get into the acidic environment of the stomach they ionize and react with positively charged minerals, proteins, amino acids creating compounds that are inaccessible for further digestion. The availability of phosphorus from phytates is provided by the phytase adding to the fodder, which not only splits phytates, but also reduces their anti-nutritional effect by concentration decreasing. From the present-day data it is known that phytates contain difficult soluble phosphorus. They also make it difficult to absorb another biologically active nutrients from fodder. The enrichment of the animal diet with microbial phytase makes calcium, zinc and copper be more accessible. It improves digestibility of food and stimulates weight gain. Phytase activity determined by the laboratory method does not allow to make up a conclusion about its expected effectiveness for animals. At present it is almost impossible to conduct such complex research and to use the dynamic modeling of digestion processes in the laboratory. The decision about the appropriate use of proposed preparations with phytase in the fodder is made on the basis of the production test. Keywords: animal feed, enzymes, phytase, anti-nutritional effect of phytates, extra phosphoric effect of phytase, activity of the feed preparations of phytase.