Methylthio Butanoic Acid Research Articles

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Different Zinc Sources on Diquat-Induced Oxidant Stress in a Piglet Model.

Zinc (Zn) plays a crucial role in reducing oxidative stress and diarrhea in postweanling piglets. This study is aimed at comparing the effects of zinc chelate of 2-hydroxy-4 methyl-thio butanoic acid (HMZn) and ZnSO4 on the oxidative stress in weaned piglets. A total of 32 piglets were randomly divided into 4 treatments: CON: basal diet+80 mg/kg Zn as ZnSO4; DIQ: basal diet+80 mg/kg Zn as ZnSO4; HMZn: basal diet+200 mg/kg Zn as HMZn; and ZnSO4: basal diet+200 mg/kg Zn as ZnSO4. On day 15, the DIQ, HMZn, and ZnSO4 groups were injected intraperitoneally with diquat except for the CON group. The trial lasted 21 days. The results showed that zinc sources did not influence the growth performance during the first 14 days. But HMZn increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum (P < 0.05). After diquat injection, the fecal score was decreased in the HMZn group. Both HMZn and ZnSO4 increased the activities of GPX and T-AOC in serum and the relative mRNA expressions of hepatic and renal Nrf2, SOD1, and GPX compared with the DIQ group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the relative mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in the small intestine, liver, and kidney was downregulated; the phosphorylation of NF-κB protein was inhibited in the HMZn group compared with the DIQ and ZnSO4 groups (P < 0.05). In general, HMZn showed notable advantage over ZnSO4 in reducing diarrhea and improving antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ability in piglets challenged with diquat.

Enantio Separation of HMB (1-Hydroxy Methylthio Butanoic Acid) through Chymotrypsin Catalysed Peptide Synthesis and Chiral LC-MS Assessment

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) have received wide attention in cosmetic and animal-feed industries. Lactic acid, malic acid and the hydroxy analog of methionine (HMB) are important members of the AHA group. The chemically synthesized formulations of alpha hydroxy acids are a racemic mixture comprising of 50% L and 50% D forms. It is a well-documented fact that enantiomeric forms of chemicals can possess different activities. Enantio purity of chemicals is important in their use in pharmaceutical applications and it may play a significant role in nutritional and cosmetic applications as well. However, this role has not been fully documented because of the lack of enantio pure HMB and other AHAs. In this work, papain and chymotrypsin catalyzed peptide capping was evaluated for obtaining enantio pure alpha hydroxy acids. Chymotrypsin catalyzed peptide capping was found to be a very fast and efficient tool to obtain enantiopure HMB. The enantio purity of products was evaluated with Reverse Phase liquid Chromatography and Chiral Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The results indicate that enantio-purity of greater than 95% was obtained in less than ~30 minutes with chymotrypsin catalyzed capping HMB capping reaction.

Effect of forage source and a supplementary methionine hydroxy analog on nitrogen balance in lactating dairy cows offered a low crude protein diet

Four primiparous and 4 multiparous midlactation dairy cows were stratified by pre-experimental milk yield (23.5±2.3kg/d), protein yield (0.75±0.066kg/d), parity, and days in lactation (121±10 d) into 4 groups of 2 in a 2×2 factorial, Latin square design (n=8) to assess the effect of forage source and a supplementary methionine hydroxy analog on nitrogen (N) balance where low crude protein (CP) diets (13.3%) are offered. Diets contained either predominantly grass silage [GS (G− and G+)] or corn silage [CS (C− and C+)] as the forage source and were offered with (G+ and C+) or without (G− and C−) the isopropyl ester of 2-hydroxy-4 methylthio butanoic acid (HMBi). The G− and G+ contained 46% GS and 10% CS in the dry matter (DM), whereas C− and C+ contained 12% GS and 52% CS in the DM. Supplementary HMBi was included at a rate of 0.2% of DM in G+ and C+ diets. Diets were isonitrogenous (9.8±0.4% protein truly digested in the small intestine) and isoenergetic (0.96±0.01 units of energy for lactation; kg/DM). Each of the 4 experimental periods lasted 24 d: 14 d for dietary adaptation, followed by 10 d of housing in individual metabolism stalls; N balance was conducted on the last 5 d of each experimental period. Intake of DM was higher for CS-based vs. GS-based diets (20.23 vs. 18.41kg/d). No effect of dietary treatment was found on milk yield or yields of milk fat, protein, and lactose. Supplementing with HMBi tended to improve milk solids yield (1.69 vs. 1.59kg/d), casein yield (0.59 vs. 0.55kg/d), and concentrations of casein (2.89 vs. 2.73%) and protein (3.58 vs. 3.49%) in the milk. Dietary N intake was higher for CS-based vs. GS-based diets (0.460 vs. 0.422kg/d). However, forage source or supplementary HMBi had no effect on N excretion in the feces, urine, or milk. Excretion of urinary urea was positively related to N intake. Concentrations of urea N in the plasma (2.34 vs. 1.72mmol/L), milk (2.54 vs. 2.24mmol/L), and urine (123.32 vs. 88.79mmol/L), and total excretion of urinary urea N (40.23 vs. 35.09g/d) were higher for animals offered CS-based vs. GS-based diets. Corn silage improved N intake through improved DM intake. However, neither forage source nor HMBi supplementation affects N output in the feces, urine, or milk.

Nutritional Interaction of Methionine Sources and Sodium and Potassium Levels on Broiler Performance Under Brazilian Summer Conditions

Two experiments were conducted to study the performance of heat-stressed chickens fed different levels of Na or K with 2 Met sources. In experiment 1, chickens from 7 to 21 d were fed Na at 3 levels (0.15, 0.20, or 0.25%) and from 21 to 48 d at 0.12, 0.17, or 0.22% Na. In experiment 2, chickens from 8 to 21 d were fed K at 3 levels (0.9, 1.0, or 1.1%) and 22 to 48 d at 0.8, 0.9, or 1.0% K. In both experiments, chickens were fed 2 Met sources, dl-Met (DLM), and 2-hydroxy-4 methylthio butanoic acid (HMB), added equimolar. In experiment 1, all-vegetable diets (corn-soy) were used, and in experiment 2, meat and bone meal was included. Both experiments were performed under Brazilian summer conditions. In experiment 1, no significant interactions between Met and Na levels were found. A positive response for HMB, compared with DLM, was found across Na levels for weight gain (P < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR P < 0.02) at 48 d. There was no response to Na for weight gain and feed intake (FI), but birds fed the higher level had the best FCR (P < 0.03). In experiment 2, K levels showed a consistent interaction with Met for FI: the highest level of K showed greater FI in HMB birds, but this was not seen when DLM was used. Low and intermediate K levels resulted in better FCR (P < 0.03) compared with higher K levels. No differences in litter moisture were observed between different levels of K. Feathering problems were not evidenced in either experiment. The HMB used in an equimolar amount to DLM resulted in equal bird performance.

Effects of Adequate or Marginal Excess of Dietary Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Free Acid on Growth Performance, Edible Meat Yields and Inflammatory Response in Female Broiler Chickens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of adequate or marginal excess of dietary DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (MHA) on productive performance and inflammatory response induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In first experiment, day-old-female chicks (Ross strain) were provided for 48 days with four experimental diets; (1) AB diet: a diet with antibiotics (AB) and DL-methionine (DLM) to meet the total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) requirements of broiler chickens, (2) DLM diet: the first diet without AB, (3) MHA diet: a diet supplemented with MHA in place of DLM of the diet 2 to meet the TSAA requirement, (4) excess MHA diet: a diet with 1.6 folds higher than the content of MHA in the MHA diet. All diets were formulated with ingredients of plant origin. There was no difference in growth performance among the dietary treatments. Edible meat yields in chicks fed the excess MHA diet were better than that in chicks fed the DLM or MHA diet. Chicks fed the excess MHA or MHA diet showed lower plasma ceruloplasmin and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein concentration following LPS injection than those fed the DLM diet at 23 days of age. The concentrations in chicks fed the excess MHA diet were comparable to those chicks fed the AB diet. In second experiment, 7-days -old female chicks were fed either of the DLM or MHA diet for 14 days. Chicks fed the MHA showed higher excreta dry matter content than chicks fed the DLM diet. Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in blood after LPS injection was lower in chicks fed the MHA diet than that in chicks fed the DLM diet. These results suggest that marginal excess supplementation of MHA, in place of DLM, to diet improved meat production in female broiler chicks and dietary MHA has potential to alleviate certain stress responses.