D-Xylose absorption capacity of broiler intestine in response to phytic acid

Abstract

1 Dietary phytic acid (PA) reduces the apparent digestion and of dietary nutrients, increases the excretion of endogenous amino acids and minerals and reduces the concentration of blood glucose.

2 An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of phytic acid on the absorption capacity of the intestine in broiler chicken, using a D-xylose absorption test.

3 Three groups of ten 26-d-old apparently healthy broiler cockerels (Ross 308) were dosed with D-xylose solution (500 mg/kg BW, Group 1) or D-xylose solution + PA (330 or 660 mg/5 ml/bird, in groups 2 and 3), respectively. The plasma concentration of D-xylose was measured at 40-min intervals after ingestion of test materials, for a total of 160 min.

4 There was a quadratic correlation between the concentration of plasma D-xylose and time in all experimental groups (P < 0⋅001, R ²= 0⋅78, 0⋅80 and 0⋅81 for groups 1–3, respectively). Ingestion of PA at 660 mg reduced the concentration of plasma D-xylose by 21⋅6 and 10⋅5% at 40 and 80 min after ingestion of the test material, indicating a lower absorption of this sugar.

5 It was concluded that dietary phytates might affect the productive performance of chicken, at least partly, by disturbing the transport mechanisms involved in the absorption of nutrients.