BACKGROUND Pathological calcification in soft tissues (ie, ectopic calcification) can have severe consequences. Hydroxyapatite is the common mineral phase present in all tissue calcifications. In general, the development of tissue calcifications requires a pre-existing injury as an inducer (heterogeneous nucleant), whereas further progression requires the presence of other promoter factors (suc...

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of NutriDense low-phytate corn in conjunction with increasing added dietary fat on growing and finishing pig performance. Diets in both experiments were corn-soybean meal-based, with yellow dent or NutriDense low-phytate corn and 0, 3, or 6% added choice white grease arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial design. There were 25 to 28 pigs per pen and...

The promotion and consumption of indigenous vegetables could help to mitigate food insecurity and alleviate malnutrition in developing countries. Nutrient and antinutrient compositions of eight accessions of Okra Pods were investigated. Molar ratios and mineral bioavailability of Okra pod accessions were also calculated and compared to the critical values to predict the implications for mineral...

Phytases are a special class of phosphatases that catalyze the sequential hydrolysis of phytate to less-phosphorylated myo-inositol derivatives and inorganic phosphate. Bacillus phytases, which exhibit their desirable activity profile under neutral pH, higher thermal stability, and strict substrate specificity for the calcium-phytate complex, have considerable potential in commercial and enviro...

Seven commercial brands of malt drinks were analyzed for reducing sugar, protein, minerals, vitamins A, vitamin C, oxalate, phytate and hydrogen cyanide. The malt drinks were found to contain substantial amounts of reducing sugar ranging from 603.66 to 943.45 mg/dl. Vitamins A and C were present in adequate amounts with respect to RDA requirements, whereas, low values were found for protein, ir...

The vegetable feed ingredients used in the preparation of poultry feed contains nearly two thirds of the phosphorus as phytates. The phytates are not only indigestible /unavailable but also are known to interfere with the utilization of other nutrients. Apart from the anti-nutritional effects the phytates bind with other minerals and make them unavialble to the birds. One of the best ways to ov...

This study investigated the effect of dietary Ca to available P (AvP) ratio and phytase supplementation on bone ash, ileal phytate degradation, and nutrient digestibility in broilers fed corn-based diets. The experimental design was a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating 4 Ca:AvP ratios (1.43, 2.14, 2.86, and 3.57) and 2 levels of phytase (0 and 1,000 phytase units/kg of feed). ...

Phytase is traditionally supplemented into broiler diets between 300 and 600 phytase units (FTU)/kg. This supplementation releases phosphorus (P) from phytate in feed ingredients. The obvious benefit is the increase in available nutrients. Another benefit, when phytase is added to corn-soybean meal based diets, the production costs are reduced, leg abnormalities are minimized and bird growth ma...

The extraordinary capacity of phytate (myo-inositol hexaphosphate), a substance present in blood, urine, interstitial and intracellular fluids, to inhibit crystallization of calcium salts (oxalate and phosphate) is discussed. Its role in preventing calcium renal stone formation is specifically presented and discussed. "In vitro" and "in vivo" experiments, as well as clinical studies clearly dem...