BIOAVAILABILITY OF

MINERALS

Definitions
The proportion of the element consumed that is utilized for a
biochemical or physiologic function (ODell, 1997)
A measure of the proportion of the total amount of a nutrient
that is utilized for normal body functions (Fairweather-Tart, 1999)
The degree to which an ingested nutrient in a particular source is
absorbed in a form that can be utilized in metabolism by the
animal (Ammerman et al., 1995)
The fraction of the ingested nutrient that is utilized for normal
physiological functions or storage (Jackson, 1997)

First basic law of nutrition:

No nutrient is absorbed and

utilized to the full extent that it is
fed
Steven Blezinger

Why to Know about

Bioavailability ?

Proper mineral supplementation.

(knowledge of mineral availability in
feed supplements used commonly)
Cost economics.(inorganic over
organic complexes)

How is Bioavailability accessed ?

Two approaches are commonly adopted
1)In vivo
2)In vitro(so far no encouraging results, but
TNO Intestinal Model gaining popularity)
----Semi in vivo (Ussing chamber- transfer
of ions across gut mucosa)

In vivo
Animal performance
Digestion/Absorption coefficient
Conc. In Tissues (Imp disadv with bone
studies)
Total mineral content in body
Blood parameters
Concentrations in secretary fluids
Concentrations in urine

Suitable criteria for estimating zinc

bioavailability
Species

Criterion

Pigs

Growth, Bone and Plasma Zn, Plasma Alkaline

Phosphatase

Chicks

Growth, Bone Zn

Ruminants

Growth, Plasma Zn, Plasma Alkaline Phosphatase

Suitable Criteria For Estimating Copper

Bioavailability
Species

Criterion

Nonruminants

Bile Cu? Plasma Diamine Oxidase?

Ruminants

Plasma and liver Cu, Plasma Ceruloplasmin

Plasma Diamine Oxidase

Relative

Bioavailability-More practical

Comparision

of mineral retention from two or more sources at

different rates of intake has been assessed.
Partial

body retention or enzyme responses or ability to

prevent defeciency conditions or rates of excretion
An

eg;-- ODell et al./ reported that Zn in wheat , Fish meal

and non-fat milk was 59, 75 and 82% as available respectively ,
as that in Zinc carbonate.

Chemical Forms of Trace Minerals in Plant

Materials
Minerals

Forms in Plants

Zinc

Anionic complexes; fiber associated; phytate complexes

Copper

Neutral or anionic complexes; fiber associated; phytate

Selenium

Selenomethionine; selenite; selenate

Iron

Ferritin; porphyrins; anionic complexes; ferric hydroxide

Manganese

Largely unknown

Iodine

Iodide ion

Molybdenum

Molybdate ion

Mineral Sources

Mineral

Supplement

Calcium

Calcium carbonate
Bone meal
Calcium chloride
(dihydrate)
Dicalcium phosphate
Limestone
Monocalcium phosphate
Cobaltous sulfate
Cobaltic oxide
Cobaltous carbonate
Cobaltous oxide
Cupric sulfate
Copper EDTA
Copper lysine
Cupric chloride (tribasic)
Cupric oxide
Cupric sulfide
Cuprous acetate
Potassium iodide
Sodium iodide
Calcium iodate
Diiodosalicyclic acid
Ethylenediamine
dihydriodine
Pentacalcium
orthoperiodate
Ferrous sulfate
heptahydrate
Ferric citrate
Ferric EDTA
Ferric phytate
Ferrous carbonate

Cobalt

Copper

Iodine

Iron

Empirical formula

Mineral concentration (percent)

Relative bioavailability (RV)

CaCO3
variable
CaCl2(H2O)

38
24
31

100.00
110.00
125.00

Mineral availability (percent

of content)
38.00
26.40
38.75

Ca2(PO4)

Ca(PO4)
CoSO4(H2O)7
Co3O4
CoCO3
CoO
CuSO4(H2O)5
variable
variable
Cu2(OH)3 Cl
CuO
CuS
CuC2O2H3
KI
NaI
Ca(IO)3
C7H4I2O3
C2H8N2(HI)2

20
36
17
21
73
47
70
25
variable
variable
58
75
66
51
69
84
64
65
80

110.00
90.00
130.00
100.00
20.00
110.00
55.00
100.00
95.00
100.00
115.00
15.00
25.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
95.00
15.00
105.00

22.00
32.40
22.10
21.00
14.60
51.70
38.50
25.00
variable
variable
66.70
11.25
16.50
51.00
69.00
84.00
60.80
9.75
84.00

Ca5(IO6)2

39

100.00

39.00

FeSO4(H2O)7

20

100.00

20.00

variable
variable
variable
FeCO3

variable
variable
variable
38

110.00
95.00
45.00
10.00

variable
variable
variable
3.80

Factors Affecting Bioavailability

Chemical form of the Mineral

Amount of mineral in the diet
Amount stored in the body
Anti-Nutritional factors present in the diet
Concentration of other Minerals
Other factors include Animal related and
Environmental related factors.

HOW TO IMPROVE BIOAVAILABILITY ?

REMOVAL OF ANTI-NUTRITIONAL FACTORS
(Biological food processing techniques that increase the activity of
the native enzymes are soaking, germination, hydrothermal
treatment and fermentation.)

USING ORGANIC MINERAL COMPLEXES

Classification of organic
minerals
1. Metal (specific amino acid)
Complex
2. Metal Amino acid Complex
3. Metal Amino acid Chelate
4. Mineral proteinnates
5. Mineral polysaccharide complex

Metal (specific amino acid) Complex The product

resulting from complexing a soluble metal salt with a
specific amino acid. Minimum metal must be declared.
When used as a commercial feed ingredient, it must be
declared as a specific metal, i.e. copper lysine complex,
zinc lysine complex etc.
Examples are:
Copper lysine complex
Ferric methionine complex
Manganese methionine complex

Zinc lysine complex

Zinc methionine complex

Metal Amino acid Complex Product resulting from complexing of

a soluble metal salt (such as copper or manganese, etc) with an
amino acid(s). Minimum metal content must declared when used as
a commercial feed ingredient.
Examples are:

Iron amino acid complex

Calcium amino acid complex

Potassium amino acid complex

Manganese amino acid complex

Metal Amino acid Chelate The product resulting from the reaction of
a metal ion from a soluble metal salt with amino acids, with a mole ratio
of one mole of metal to one to three (preferably two) moles of amino
acids to form coordinate covalent bonds.
Amino acids molecular weight must be approximately 150 the Chelate
molecular weight must not exceed 800. The minimum metal content
must be declared. When used as a commercial feed ingredient,
Examples are:
1)Calcium amino acid chelate
2)Cobalt amino acid chelate

Metal proteinate is the product

resulting from the chelation of a
soluble salt with amino acids and/or
partially hydrolyzed protein. It must be
declared as a ingredient as the specific metal
proteinate.
Examples are:
Copper proteinate
Zinc proteinate
Magnesium proteinate

Metal Polysaccharide Complex

product

is the

resulting from complexing of a soluble

salt with a polysaccharide solution declared as a

ingredient as the specific metal complex

Examples are:
Copper polysaccharide complex
Iron polysaccharide complex

Mode of action
Stable in rumen environment & abomasum

Delivered in small intestine as such.

Absorbed through active transport (more blood

level)

It act as biological complex (more tissue level)

Enter into different pool

Metabolizable in differently( Neathery et al 1972)

(Pharmaco-dyanamics nutrient) (using 65Zn)

Importance of Organic mineral

complexes.
1st concept- Stability Constant
Less interaction with vitamin in VitMin premixes
Better performance than inorganic
supplements (Weaning weights in
calves fed with Zn/Mn methionine &
over Zn/Mn oxide)

Conclusions
Chelated minerals usually cost more, per unit of
metal element, than the same metal in inorganic form.
Historically the argument against chelates was that
increased use of inorganics was more economic than
feeding chelates.
However, there is indication that in some
situations(high producers & Stressed @), chelates can
achieve biologic endpoints that inorganics cannot.

References
Bioavailability of macro and micro
minerals in animals- R. S. Dass
Bioavailability of minerals in Livestock
Feeds and Feed Supplements- J. V.
Ramana
Online articles and Educational videos by
TNO

Thank You
CHINNAM HARISH
KHANNA
GVM/013-22
Dept. of Animal Nutrition