Short Communication: Evaluation of Intestinal Release of Butyric Acid from Sodium Butyrate Protected by Salts of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids in Broiler Chickens

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Butyric acid is under investigation as a dietary supplement to improve gut health of broiler chickens. In fact, many studies have focused on the protection of butyric acid and its release throughout the intestine, promoting its beneficial effects in the entire gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, this study evaluated the intestinal release of butyric acid in broiler chickens by performing an in vivo approach. Broilers fed a diet supplemented with sodium butyrate protected by salts of medium-chain fatty acid containing a dye, brilliant blue. The blue color was then observed from jejunum and backward. Indeed, the released brilliant blue, and consequently, butyric acid, was quantified by intestinal sections observing that the major amount of butyric acid was delivered in the distal ileum. These results suggest that this in vivo approach enables the evaluation of the intestinal release of butyric acid from fat-protected sodium butyrate, showing a slow intestinal release of butyric acid in broiler chickens. ABSTRACT: Butyric acid has received great attention as a feed additive to maintain or increase the gut integrity and health of broiler chickens. Particularly, the protection of butyrate is under research to allow slow intestinal release of butyric acid and to promote its beneficial effects throughout the intestine. This study evaluated in vivo the intestinal release of butyric acid from sodium butyrate protected by salts of medium-chain fatty acid in broilers. Brilliant blue was used as an inert marker, so it was included in the feed additive that broilers ingested for two days. The gastrointestinal tract was then colored in blue from jejunum and backward. Considering the digesta color of the broilers non-supplemented as blank, it allowed quantification of the amount of brilliant blue, and consequently, butyric acid delivered in the intestine from the protected feed additive. Few traces of butyric acid were released in the duodenum and proximal jejunum, whereas the major amount (45.9%) was delivered in the distal ileum (p < 0.001). These results suggest that this in vivo approach allows for evaluation of the intestinal delivery of butyric acid supplemented as protected sodium butyrate by medium-chain fatty acids, showing a gradual intestinal release of butyric acid in broiler chickens.