Folic Acid in Feed Ingredients

Introduction

Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, a member of the B vitamin family, consisting of pteridine, p-aminobenzoic acid, and L-glutamic acid. Folic acid can participate in the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine, assist in the mutual conversion of serine and glycine, and promote the degradation of histidine and the synthesis of methionine.

Folic Acid Pharmacodynamics & Physical Properties

Folic acid is a light orange-yellow crystal or flake, its melting point is 250℃, soluble in hot dilute hydrochloric acid and sulfur, slightly soluble in acetic acid, phenolpyridine, alkali hydroxide and carbonate alkali solutions, insoluble in ethanol, butanol, ether, acetone, chloroform and benzene solutions. In organisms, the synthesis of proteins, nucleotides, pantothenic acid and the methylation of molecules require the participation of one carbon unit, and folic acid is an extremely important cofactor mediating the transfer of one carbon unit. Folic acid is mainly involved in the de novo synthesis of purine and pyrimidine.

Harms when animals are deficient in folic acid

In general, there is no folic acid deficiency. But dogs that have been on antibiotics or sulfonamides for a long time may be deficient in folic acid. When dogs lack folic acid, there is loss of appetite, indigestion and slow growth.It could use folic acid injection to improve it. Folic acid deficiency in cats results in increased plasma iron concentration, megaloblastic anemia, leukopenia, slow growth, dermatitis, decreased reproductive function, and decreased feed utilization.

Practical applications

1. After weaning to 30 days of gestation, sows were supplemented with folic acid rda of 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. It was found that folic acid could improve the estrus rate and estrus pregnancy rate of sows, and folic acid of 2mg/kg could also significantly increase litter size and litter live number of sows. The dietary supplementation of 1.64, 2.14 and 2.64mg/kg folic acid in hybrid broilers showed that 1.64mg/kg folic acid supplementation significantly increased feed intake and average daily gain of hybrid broilers.

2. The deficiency of folic acid will cause the decline of animal immunity. Supplementation of folic acid in the diet can promote the production of immune cells and the synthesis of immune enzymes in the animal body, thus improving the immune function of animals. 0.3mg/kg folic acid can effectively alleviate immunosuppression and reduce tissue lesions, and significantly increase the proportion of peripheral blood CD3+CD8+ and serum IFN-γ level of piglets.

3. Folic acid can compete with free radicals to eliminate free radicals in the animal body and prevent them from causing damage to the organism. When folic acid is insufficient, fat peroxidation initiated by homocysteine will cause serious oxidative damage to the body. Supplementation of 30mg/kg folic acid in sow diet can significantly increase the total antioxidant capacity, the activities of glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase in liver of piglets, and significantly reduce the contents of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in liver.

Matters that need attention

When folic acid is used to treat folic acid deficiency associated with small bowel disease or pancreatic insufficiency, long-term monitoring and periodic replacement therapy are required.

In the treatment of folic acid deficiency, for many non-single ingredient products containing folic acid as A component, it is necessary to make sure that the product contains sufficient folic acid but does not contain excessive doses of fat-soluble vitamins A and D.