Ver.

2020

Animal Nutrition

Ch11:
NCHU AS
HI Chiang
Macromineral
Elements
Part II
5th Edition
江信毅
中興大學動物科學系

Office: Room 5E
Email: samchiang@nchu.edu.tw
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Tissue Distribution of P
• P content of adult humans approximates 1.1% of
the fat-free body, of which about 80% is in the
skeleton.
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• P in skeleton is present as part of the
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hydroxyapatite crystal as Ca.

• P in the skeleton increases throughout the life as

ossification of the skeleton progresses to
maturity.

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Tissue Distribution of P
• Total serum P concentration under normal
conditions in most species is 6 to 9 mg/dL.

• In blood serum, P exists in both inorganic and

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organic form, the latter as a constituent of

lipid (phospholipid).

• Phospholipid is also the cell membrane

structure.

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Function of P
• As with Ca, the most obvious function of P is as
component of the skeleton.

• P is a component in cellHI
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membrane
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(phospholipids).

• P is a component of RNA and DNA (phosphate).

• P functions in energy metabolism as a component of

adenosine monophosphate (AMP), ADP and ATP.
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HI Chiang

http://cyberbridge.mcb.harvard.edu/dna_3.html
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Absorption of P
• Absorption of P from GI tract occurs by active
transport and passive diffusion (same as Ca).
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• Vitamin D can also affect on P absorption.

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– 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) and fibroblast

growth factor 23 (FGF23) regulate serum phosphate by
modulating intestinal phosphate absorption, renal
phosphate reabsorption and/or bone metabolism.

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Absorption of P
• Excess of dietary P depresses Ca absorption. Vise
versa. Excess of dietary Ca depresses P absorption.
– Formation of insoluble Ca phosphate salts.
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• P in phytic acid binds Ca and decrease availability for
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both.
– Many plant seeds are high in P as phytic acid, but the
bioavailability of phytic P is low (20% - 60%) for non-ruminant
animals.
– Non-ruminant animal do not produce phytase, enzymes that
hydrolyze phytate to release inorganic P.
– Ruminants reply on rumen microbes to produce phytases.

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Phytic acid (Phytate)

= Inositol + 6 x Phosphate

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phytic_acid.png

Phytate P is the hexaphoporylated

ester of inositol(肌醇), a constituent of
http://www.aaes.auburn.edu/comm/pubs/
plant seeds and other plant parts. highlightsonline/spring99/phytase.html

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Inositol (myo-inositol) (肌醇)

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肌醇被磷酸酯化
(醇+酸 = 酯 + 水) = 植酸
Phytate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inositol 9
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HI Chiang

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Microorganism can produce phytase to

digest phytate

• The first phytase to be characterized was

obtained from the fungus Aspergillus niger
(黑麴黴菌)。 NCHU AS
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• Potential benefits of using phytase:

1. Improve P bioavailability (phytate P)
2. Enhance bioavailability of trace minerals such as Zn
and Fe chelated by phytate in feeds.
3. Reduce environmental pollution (decrease the
supplementation of inorganic P in feeds)
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Phytase as feed additives

• Phytases differ in molecular weight

– Fungus phytase: 80-120 kDaltons, e.g., Aspergillus niger
– Bacterial phytase: 40-55 kDaltons, e.g., E. coli
– Natural plant phytase: 47-55kDaltons
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HI Chiang

• Various phytases differ in their modes of splitting the

phosphate group on the inositol ring.

• Various phytases differ in their optimum pH, temperature

and other properties (e.g. heat stability).
• To add phytase in the pelleted feed, a heat-stable phytase is needed.

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Phytase unit and splitting mode

• One phytase unit (FTU) is defined as the quantity of
enzyme that will liberate one micro-mole inorganic
phosphate per minute from 0.0051 mole per liter of
sodium phytate at pH 5.5
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AS temperature of 37°C.
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Example of the phosphate

splitting mode

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Metabolism of P
• Most of the P excretion occurs through the
kidney by renal excretion.

• Renal excretion is the main regulator of blood P

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concentration, under control of parathyroid
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hormone (PTH), metabolically active form VIT D.

• When intestinal absorption of P is low, urinary P

falls to a low level, with reabsorption by the
kidney tubules approaching 99%.

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Phosphate homeostasis. Serum phosphate is maintained by intestinal

phosphate absorption, renal phosphate handling and equilibrium of
phosphate between extracellular fluid and phosphate in bone or
intracellular pool.
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http://www.nature.com/bonekeyreports/2014/140205/bonekey2013231/full/bonekey2013231.html
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Signs of P Deficiency
• The most common sign of P deficiency in
growing animal is rickets(佝僂症).

• P deficiency can lead to appetite fails and

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growth retarded.

• “Pica” syndrome – P deficient animal often

have a depraved appetite and may chew wood
or other inappropriate objects.

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Toxicity of P
• An excess of dietary P results in nutritional secondary
hyperparathyroidism (NSHP)
– Syndrome of P toxicity = Ca deficiency => NSHP
– Results in lameness, spontaneous fractures of long bones.
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HI Chiang
• Low Ca/P ratios (e.g. 1:2 or smaller) may produce
fibrous osteodystrophy (纖維性骨發育不全症).
– Lean meats, cereal grains, wheat bran cause low Ca/P
ratios in feeds.

• High P has laxative effect and may results in diarrhea

and high fecal loss of P as well as other nutrients.

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Tissue Distribution of Mg
• Except for Ca and P, Mg is present in larger amount in the
body than any other mineral.
• 50% Mg in bone constitute, 49% Mg within cells (soft tissues),
1% in extracellular fluids (blood plasma).
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HI Chiang
• Mg composed of 0.5~0.7 % in bone ash.

• Mg in soft tissue is concentrated within cells. Highest

concentration is in liver and skeletal muscle.

• Only 1% Mg is distributed in plasma, with 75% in red blood

cells (6 meq/L) and 25% in serum.
• Blood Mg is not a good indicator for diagnosis of Mg deficiency.

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Functions of Mg
• Mg is required for normal skeletal
development as a constituent of bone.

• Mg is required for oxidative phosphorylation

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by mitochondria of heart muscle (心肌粒線體).

Associated with heart muscle relaxation.

• Mg are cofactors for activation of many

enzymes (e.g. ATPase, DNA polymerase).

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Metabolism of Mg
• Absorption of Mg from the GI tract occurs
mostly from the ileum.
– Passive transportation.
– Unlike Ca or P, no carrier
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nor VIT D is known for
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enhancing Mg absorption

• Mg excretion occurs via the feces and urine.

Urinary excretion accounts for about 95% of
losses of absorbed Mg.

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Metabolism of Mg
• High diet Ca and P appear to aggravate Mg
deficiency, probably because of depressed Mg
absorption.
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• High K also can depressed Mg absorption

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– K may work as Mg’s antagonism which compete

binding sites for absorption.
• Sheep fed high K tended to excrete more Mg
in urine and feces.

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Signs of Mg Deficiency
• Mg deficiency in pigs results in weak and
crooked legs, hyperirritability, muscular
twitching, reluctance to stand, tetany(痙攣),
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and death. HI Chiang

• Anorexia (厭食), reduced weight gain.

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Grass tetany (Mg tetany)

• Grass tetany (grass stagger, Mg tetany, wheat-
pasture poisoning)
– Plans accumulate K faster than Mg.
– The high level of K and protein (high–N) in lush pastures has
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suggested the possibility of
HI an antagonism with Mg.
Chiang

• However, recent researches suggest grass tetany

is more complicated than a simple dietary Mg
deficiency.
– There are some other factors reduced Mg
bioavailability.

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Toxicity of Mg
• Depressed feed intake.
• Diarrhea.
• Mg reduced intestinal water reabsorption.
Magnesium sulfate, magnesium
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oxide, and magnesium
chloride are common laxative in medicine.
• Loss of reflexes (反應遲緩).
– Mg decreases the release of acetylcholine (乙醯膽鹼) at
the neuromuscular junction.
– Mg is used as an anesthetics (麻醉劑) for surgery.
• Cardiorespiratory depression (降低心肺功能), dropping in
blood pressure, and affect the electrocardiogram.
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References
• 2014_Blaine_Renal Control of Calcium, Phosphate, and Magnesium
Homeostasis
– http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/early/2014/11/30/CJN.09750913.full

• 2002_Thilsing-Hansen_Milk Fever Control

NCHU AS Principles: A Review
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– https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1764183/

• 2000_B. Lawrence Riggs_The mechanisms of estrogen regulation of bone

resorption
– https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC381441/

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