Valeric & Butyric Acid: keys to unlocking superior gut health and performance

The use of single chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as additives in animal production is a common and very well accepted practice. The benefits of adding SCFAs to the diet are wide ranging, including improvements in feed hygiene and stomach acidification to greater pathogen control and many more. While their mode of action is not completely understood yet, the scientific community continues to work and update industry knowledge. The most recent discovery is the importance of valeric acid in the gut. When valeric acid is combined with butyric acid, the synergistic effect of the combination of organic acids delivers more than the sum of its parts, supporting gut health and unlocking superior levels of flock performance.

Butyric acid and gut health

Gut health has a direct impact on animal performance. Although there is no clear definition for gut health, in most of the cases experts refer to different functions including:

  • nutrient digestion and adsorption
  • stable microbiome
  • optimal barrier function (development of the mucus layer and epithelial cell integrity)
  • absence of diseases and infections
  • effective immune system
  • general well-being
SCFAs and branched fatty acids are usually present in the gastrointestinal tract as they are produced there by the microbiota from the fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins. Among these acids, butyric acid has been identified as a crucial player for gut health. SCFAs can support gut health in many different ways including: 
  1. Directly impacting the epithelial function by providing energy to epithelial cells, supporting electrolyte transport, and regulating pH
  2. Promoting mucus production and hence supporting the stability of the barrier between epithelial cells and the outside
  3. Impacting the intestinal barrier function by supporting epithelial cell integrity, reducing permeability, and promoting tight junction expression
  4. Positively affecting mucosal immune function
  5. Inducing expression of antimicrobial proteins (defensins and cathelicidins)
  6. Affecting the enteric nervous system with an apparent impact on the motility of the epithelial cells
Butyric acid is probably one of the most studied single chain fatty acids in humans and in animals specifically focusing on gut health. A library of scientific reports is available on butyric acid in different forms (esterified, coated or in the form of salts) that support its use to improve animal performance and have a positive effect on gut health. Results include:
  • A positive impact on the immune function of the animals
  • Increased epithelial cell function
  • A reduction of pathogen counts
  • An overall positive effect all along the gastrointestinal tract as described in recent reviews on the use of butyric acid in poultry production

The use of butyric acid in poultry production is well-established and its effects on performance are well-known, but could its effects be improved even more?

Valeric acid: a missing piece?

Even though valeric, isovaleric and 2-methylbutyric acid are also produced in the gastrointestinal tract by the microbiota, they have not been nearly as well researched as some of their SCFA and branched fatty acid peers. Among these acids, valeric acid has been gaining attention, especially for human medicine. Research into the role of valeric acid in gut health and health in general is ongoing, but thanks to in vitro studies, studies in mice, and epidemiological observations we know for example that valeric acid can prevent inflammation as well as maintain gut integrity. Low levels of valeric acid in humans have been linked with different diseases such as neurodermitis in children. Additionally, valeric acid has been particularly investigated because of its property as a histone deacetylases inhibitor (HDI). HDIs are used in psychiatry and neurology but are gaining more and more interest for the treatment of cancers, parasite infections and inflammatory diseases.
Valeric acid (in its esterified form) has been shown to exert positive results in poultry production. The intestinal structure of broilers improves, increasing GLP-2 production which is considered to play an important role in promoting intestinal growth and enhancing intestinal function, resulting in better performance. Another study reported the beneficial effect of valeric acid on reducing the impact (lesion scoring and mortality) of a Clostridium perfringens challenge, maintaining a good performance level when compared to esterified butyric acid. 

Utilizing synergies to improve performance

In a trial performed in Spain (IMASDE) using 792 male broiler chickens (Ross 308 DOC, 12 replicate pens per treatment and 22 birds per pen) the effects of a product combining valeric acid and butyric acid in esterified form (Gastrivix™ Avi) were compared to using sole tributyrins and a control group without any feed additive used. Gastrivix™ Avi significantly improved final body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group by 7.1%, 7.4% and 8 pts, respectively. Gastrivix™ Avi numerically improved final body weight and ADG, and statistically improved FCR by 3.8%, 3.9% and 6 pts compared to the tributyrins only group (Table 1). Both numerical and statistical improvements were reported for the Gastrivix™ Avi group compared to both the control group and the tributyrins group in each single feeding phase. 
In this trial Gastrivix™ Avi proved to be an excellent feed additive to improve the performance of broilers. Additionally, the data suggests that combining esters of butyric acid with esters of valeric acid (Gastrivix™ Avi) shows beneficial effects compared to the use of sole esters of butyric acid when used for the purpose of improving broiler performance.

Parameter     Control   Tributyrins (T)  Butyrins +
Valerins (BV)
Improvement
BV vs C 
Improvement
BV vs T
 Final BW (g) 2997  3022  3069  + 2%  + 2%
 ADG (g/d)  72.0  72.7  73.8  + 3%  + 2%
 FCR  1.55b  1.52a  1.50a  - 5 pts  - 2 pts
 EPEF  458  453  469   + 2%   + 4%

 

 

 

 

Table 1. Performance results from a trial in broilers (Ross 308 DOC) performed in Spain (IMASDE) in 2021

The use of Gastrivix™ Avi shows consistent improvements in performance in terms of body weight and FCR (displayed in Figure 1) over all the scientific and semi-scientific trials run so far with the product. The average improvement over the eight trials is 4 points in FCR resulting in a good return on investment for the product and hence an economic benefit. As all producers are currently faced with increasing production prices, Gastrivix™ Avi can be a tool to rely on to support gut integrity and performance.

Gastrivix Avi Graph 9 trial FCR results

Figure 1. Improvement of FCR in broilers fed diets containing Gastrivix™ Avi compared to a control group fed a diet containing no additives. The trials were run by Perstorp in cooperation with different partners between 2019 and 2021

 

References are available on request

 

Antonia Tacconi

Global Product Manager Gut Health

Contact me

No more concerns about gut health; that's gut wealth

No more concerns about gut health

 

 That's gut wealth

Find out more about gut wealth here >>

Antonia Tacconi

Global Product Manager Gut Health

Contact me