Introduction: The importance of adsorption capacity of a mycotoxin binder at different pHs of the gastrointestinal tract.

Mycotoxin binders play a crucial role in protecting the welfare and performance of production animals, avoiding economic losses and pathologies associated with feed contamination. However, the variation in the pH of the gastrointestinal tract of animals presents a challenge for many market collectors, who cannot maintain adsorption to mycotoxins at different pHs. In this context, Silicoglycidol is presented as an innovative solution, capable of maintaining high adsorption efficiency under various conditions of the digestive tract.

Silicoglycidol: An advanced mycotoxin binder

Silicoglycidol is a patented molecule, the result of heat treatment and ion exchange, through which a silicate with limited mycotoxin uptake properties becomes an optimized molecule. This innovative solution has a broad spectrum of action and can bind to the five main groups of mycotoxins. Unlike other alternatives, Silicoglycidol is highly efficient in low doses and does not interfere with the absorption of nutrients from the diet. These effects have been seen in tests carried out in various research centers. One of its most outstanding characteristics is its resistance to the various pH levels present in the different sections of the gastrointestinal tract, which guarantees a high mycotoxin adsorption rate.

Mechanism of action of Silicoglycidol

Silicoglycidol exerts its action by forming hydrogen bonds with mycotoxins. These links are exceptionally stable, ensuring that Silicoglycidol remains bound to mycotoxins under all digestive tract conditions. This unique characteristic of Silicoglycidol makes it an effective option to combat the presence of mycotoxins in animal feed.

Results

In various comparative studies, Silicoglycidol has shown a remarkable adsorption capacity for various mycotoxins (aflatoxin, ochratoxin, zearalenone, DON, T2 toxin and fumonisin, among others) at different concentrations. Here are the results of one study:

As can be seen in the table, glucomannans are very specific in the uptake of a single group of mycotoxins (fumonisin), same as the enzymes (fumonisins and zearalenone). That is why the result of these binders against some mycotoxins (such as DON) is 0%. Another case, such as clinoptilolite, is that it has a high percentage of adsorption (AR) compared to ZEA, but it is sensitive in desorption (DR) reaching 37%, therefore, Silicoglycidol, having a low rate of DR has the highest adsorption efficiency (EA), as well as having a broad spectrum (effective against all of them).

Conclusions

The use of an effective mycotoxin binder is of vital importance to avoid annual economic losses of up to 18% and productive losses in livestock farms. In this sense, Silicoglycidol stands out as a highly efficient solution that is resistant to pH changes in the gastrointestinal tract. Its adsorption capacity and low desorption in different concentrations of mycotoxins and its broad spectrum of action make it an exceptional option to protect the welfare and performance of production animals. Likewise, it is effective at low doses (0.5 kg/t) and does not interfere with the absorption of amino acids, vitamins and minerals at the intestinal level.

The patented molecule, Silicoglycidol, is available on the market under the name Alquerfeed^® Antitox, a mycotoxin binder developed and marketed by Biovet, S.A. (It is available in premix format.)