LYSOFORTE® EXTEND (LEX) is Kemin Industries’ unique nutrient absorption enhancer that contains a synergistic mix of three active ingredients (lysolecithins, glyceryl monooleate and a synthetic emulsifier) in a specific patented ratio, designed to facilitate lipid emulsification, hydrolysis and absorption of nutrients. However, throughout various scientific studies and commercial use in feed across the world, it has become clearer that enhancing lipid digestion through its surface chemistry (driven by emulsification and hydrolysis of fats) is just one facet of the potential it can bring to animal production, claim Kemin Industries’ Frederika Somers, Business Manager for Monogastric Nutrition, and Veerle Van Hoecke, Innovation Project Leader for Monogastrics. Facilitating the digestion and absorption of other nutrients such as proteins appears to be another pathway by which the product can bring about improvements to production profitability. A partial explanation for the mechanism of action behind this additional effect can be found in its so-called nutrigenomic effects as confirmed by recent scientific findings.
[Feedinfo] In recent years, you have seen an increased interest in “biosurfactants”. How have Kemin’s insights into the value of LYSOFORTE EXTEND evolved over that time to help reinforce that?
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[Frederika Somers] Multiple scientific and commercial studies across different monogastric species have been performed, showing LEX provides value to the industry either applied ‘on top’ of the existing diet or in reformulation. Today, we have a significant database with a comprehensive set of insights into the efficacy of LEX, including over 20 peer-reviewed papers across multiple species. Continuous in vitro assessments of various commercially available biosurfactants on the market have provided insights into the added value of LEX’s distinctive composition in improving lipid digestion and releasing fatty acids faster compared to others. |
Frederika Somers |
All this supports customer confidence in the efficiency of our solution to support growth performance and feed conversion, together with a range of additional benefits across all stages of animal production in different types of diets, whether high or low in energy. Our new concept of a self-regulating matrix, which considers the type and quantity of fat used in the diets, also has enabled a more tailor-made approach in our customer diets for the best cost-savings.
As a global leader in biosurfactants, Kemin is well-positioned to compare many lysolecithin sources from various suppliers across the globe on their specs and efficacy. We have been able to share these insights and educate our customers on this matter while continuing to select the highest quality raw material for the best performance. Finally, we have seen through more recent research that LEX can up-regulate intestinal cell differentiation, nutrient transporters, and collagen deposition, which drives more efficient nutrient absorption. This provided our customers with a better understanding of the reasons behind the increased performance efficiency, carcass quality, and yield they experience when using LEX in the field.
[Feedinfo] Can you give more insight on how Kemin discovered the nutrigenomic mode of action of LYSOFORTE EXTEND?
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[Veerle Van Hoecke] One way to compare the efficacy of biosurfactants is through a simulated emulsification and lipid hydrolysis assessment done under laboratory conditions to demonstrate the surface chemistry effect. In such tests, we have been able to demonstrate the added value of the synergistic effect of the different compounds of LEX versus other solutions. However, increasing in vivo digestibility data revealed LEX also affected the digestive processes and absorption of other essential nutrients, such as amino acids. |
Veerle Van Hoecke Innovation Project Leader for Monogastrics Kemin Industries |
Hence, we realized part of the full power of LEX was yet to be explored because its mode of action was broader, encompassing nutrigenomics effects that stimulate nutrient absorption pathways. Nutrigenomics elucidates how the components of a particular diet may affect the expression of genes and thereby can impact cellular pathways in the intestinal tract. The bioactive compounds in lysolecithins are the lysophospholipid (LPL) fractions. So, over the past months, Kemin has been working to assess and demonstrate how small amounts of the specific lysolecithins present in LEX can unlock a cascade of biological actions in the intestinal tract and even beyond.
Kemin invested significantly in the characterization of the LPL content of various commercial lysolecithin sources available in the market. Based on the insights we gained, we have discovered that it is not the amount of LPL applied in a diet that is critical for obtaining an optimal impact, but it is rather the fatty acid distribution across the LPL fractions that is the most determining factor. Step by step, Kemin is revealing how LEX can significantly improve intestinal cell health status. Recent in-depth gene expression analyses have demonstrated that pathways responsible for amino acid transport and nutrient metabolism are significantly triggered by LYSOFORTE in intestinal tract cells.
[Feedinfo] We understand Kemin is increasingly focusing on studying the bioactive impact of LYSOFORTE EXTEND. Can you describe the main takeaways in more detail?
[Veerle Van Hoecke] A first takeaway is that we established that a higher LPL content in a biosurfactant does not equal more emulsification and hydrolyzation efficacy. It’s the mix and ratio of all active compounds that does. These findings were published at the European Symposium for Poultry Nutrition in 2023 and confirmed by more recent data.
A second take-away is the significance of the amount of saturated fatty acids in the LPL in their efficacy. In a recent study assessing the fatty acid profile of each phospholipid compared to other lysolecithin sources on the market, the LEX lysolecithins were revealed to be richer in both saturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (and thus not the mono-unsaturated fatty acid) on the LPL fractions.
A third take-away is the lysophosphocholine (LPC) content in a commercial solution is not relevant, as basal quantities of LPC in feed are already remarkably high. The impact of adding extra LPC via supplementing the diet will thus be minor. Additionally, significant amounts of LPC are also naturally released into the gastrointestinal tract by the pancreas and gall bladder. As we see significant animal response upon the addition of lysolecithins to the diet, Kemin believes that the type and characteristics of the different LPL fractions within the lysolecithin source used are more relevant than a high amount of LPC as such. Findings from a 2017 study with LEX versus only LPC fully confirm this.
[Feedinfo] How are customers benefitting from these additional insights?
[Frederika Somers] These additional insights behind the science of how LEX works give our customers greater clarity around its broader impact on improving digestion, not just of energy but also of protein (data widely published in influential journals), which underlies the benefits they experience. By increasing the uptake efficiency of valuable nutrients, nutritionists can formulate their diets at lower basal nutrient levels, thereby substantially saving feed costs. By also supporting better protein digestibility and related nitrogen-use efficiency, the environmental impact of their production can be reduced, resulting in more sustainable agriculture. Other research now aims at strengthening our current self-regulating nutritional matrices, which provide even more accurate, tailored, and optimal nutritional formulation recommendations in the function of the feed formulation to help get the maximum potential out of our customer’s diets. Our work in this area not only means that our customers will be the first ones to gain knowledge into the underlying mechanisms of a true nutrient absorption enhancer and how the solutions on the market differ from each other, but it also strengthens confidence in KEMIN’s science-driven leadership and expertise in lysolecithins and in the enhancement of nutrient efficiency.
[Feedinfo] Indeed, the range of biosurfactant solutions on the market is growing steadily. Which criteria should companies’ purchasers take into account when choosing one?
[Frederika Somers] One first needs to be aware of which criteria really matter in defining the cost-efficiency of a biosurfactant solution. Simply comparing the percentage of lysolecithins or even LPC levels versus investment cost will not provide an accurate assessment of the performance and final ROI of the solution. The full value is related to all the active compounds and the blend’s full potential on surface chemistry activity and nutrigenomics, as explained earlier on in the interview. This includes the quality and intrinsic consistency of the lysolecithin characteristics. Lysolecithins are simply not all the same, as lecithin sources have a natural variation. Kemin has fully characterized its lysolecithin source to ensure a consistent composition, batch after batch, enriched in the right fatty acids on the lysolecithins for the most optimal and homogeneous performance.
Secondly, the efficacy of a true nutrient absorption enhancer should be well substantiated by animal trials. Kemin continues to conduct commercial and scientific trials in various animal species, always aligned with market conditions and trends, to confirm its proof of concept. As a result, we have today a broad data package, including a metadata analysis and > 150 pieces of technical literature.
Finally, a dedicated technical service team, experts in nutrition and feed formulation, provides additional value to companies. They work closely with nutritionists to determine the right formulation strategy.
[Feedinfo] What do these evolutions in the science of LYSOFORTE EXTEND mean for other solutions applied in pig and poultry diets to impact diet digestibility?
[Veerle Van Hoecke] It is generally accepted that enhancing the degradation of the dietary fat matrix enables digestive and exogenous enzymes to better access and degrade their specific substrates, thus supporting the overall enzyme activity in the gut. However more enzyme activity does not directly imply those nutrients will also be better absorbed. Through its specific mode of action, LEX also ensures a better absorption of the released nutrients. Combining LEX and Kemin enzymes – blends or singles – in a diet will thus offer a robust, cost-effective strategy to optimize feed efficiency. Several papers have already been published on the synergistic value of this strategy. For example, Kemin offers a multiple-protease enzyme on the market. When simultaneously used in a diet, the proteases will serve as scissors for the proteins, whereas LEX will stimulate channels that trigger the absorption of the released amino acids. Hence the combination of both can offer a valuable strategy to produce more sustainably by reducing nitrogen excretion in the flock. Continuing to investigate the overall matrix utilization when enzymes and LEX are used together in a diet remains a key for Kemin, to ensure our customers the most accurate reformulation approach.
[Feedinfo] What should the industry expect to see from Kemin in terms of biosurfactants, particularly to help future proof the value chain, in the years to come?
[Frederika Somers] Between the introduction of LEX itself and of versions such as a liquid solution that further accommodates the needs of different industry participants, Kemin has been a leader in innovation in this space, and we remain committed to continuing that leadership. Our innovation group is currently working on some new routes to further extend the efficacy of nutrient absorption enhancers and to build out our offering to meet our customers’ present and future needs. Some exciting developments are in the pipeline, and we will be communicating on these soon.
Furthermore, as sustainability receives increasing attention in the industry, this has led Kemin to conduct LCAs for our LEX Dry and Liquid versions to determine their carbon footprint. Based on these LCA values, we are currently working on determining how our solutions can contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of feed and animal production. We also strive to add value and contribute to more sustainable production through R&D focused not only on how the product works but on improving our own operations or those of our customers. For example, focusing on the benefits of the liquid application in combination with a custom-made application system, developed in house allows for full automatization of the application process at the feed mill; meanwhile, identifying more favorable supply-chain pathways and identifying how our solutions can improve animal welfare are both important steps we are taking to help future-proof the value chain.
Published in association with Kemin Industries
