Natural resin acids (Progres® by AB Vista) have been developed for animal feeding to improve gut integrity and overall performance. Originating from rosin, a substance which protects coniferous trees, resin acids have long been known for their wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
The performance benefits and unique mode of action of in-feed resin acids for farm animals have been studied extensively in collaboration with research institutions around the world. The proven benefits are believed to result from their impact on the intestinal epithelium, which is composed of a layer of cells attached to the collagen-rich basal membrane. Inflammation induces the expression of specific matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes, which degrade collagen and other structural molecules of the extracellular matrix. This process damages epithelial integrity and leads to ‘leaky gut syndrome’.
Research shows that diet-derived resin acids inhibit the expression and collagenolytic activity of inflammation-associated MMPs, and reduce the number of inflammatory T-lymphocytes in the small-intestinal tissue. By these mechanisms, resin acids reduce the impact of inflammation on the epithelial integrity, and beneficially modulate intestinal microbiota – favouring butyrate producers and lactobacilli and reducing the growth of Gram-positive pathogens.
Resin acids have been studied in different forms, including Progres® (tall oil fatty acids), a plant-derived oil containing 8–10% of resin acids. Selected results of this extensive research have been presented at numerous international symposiums and published in scientific articles. This collection includes posters with related abstracts, and abstracts submitted for oral presentations, categorised by species. An annotated list of scientific articles and publications pertaining to resin acids and Progres® is included in the appendices.
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