Abstract
Effect of phytic acid (PA) and phytase on gastro-intestinal digesta pH, soluble mineral concentration and pepsin activity in piglets was investigated. Twenty four piglets (initial body weight = 7.60 ± 0.73 kg; mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to 3 experimental diets to give 8 piglets per diet. The diets consisted of a casein-cornstarch-based diet with 0, 2% PA (as sodium phytate), or 2% PA plus phytase at 500 FTU/kg. The basal diet was formulated to meet NRC (1998) amino acids requirements for piglets. After consuming experimental diets for 10 days, the piglets were killed and digesta sampled from the stomach and jejunum for pH, pepsin activity, and soluble mineral determination. Phytic acid decreased ( P < 0.01) jejunal digesta pH from 7.13 to 6.61. Phytic acid also decreased ( P < 0.05) stomach digesta pepsin activity by 46%; jejunal Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ concentrations by 60 and 85%, respectively; but increased ( P < 0.0001) jejunal Na + concentration by 57%. Phytase did not influence ( P > 0.05) any of the response criteria measured in this study. It is concluded that supplemented PA reduces pepsin activity in the stomach, pH in jejunum, and concentrations of soluble Ca and Mg in the jejunum; and increases Na secretion in the jejunum of piglets. Thus, it appears that PA reduces nutrient utilization in pigs partly through reduced stomach pepsin activity and altered mineral solubility in the small intestine.
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