Mycotoxin contamination of feed stuff often involves multiple toxins affecting various aspects of animal health, gut integrity, and animal performance. This is mainly caused by the detrimental effects mycotoxins have on the immune system, the gut barrier or the oxidative status of the animals. Effects that can be seen are, for instance, enlarged or shrunken organs as well as inflamed tissues. Binding components efficacy is essential to prevent the maximum of toxins from entering the digestive tract.

1. M
ycotoxin contamination of
feed stuff often involves
multiple toxins affecting
various aspects of animal
health, gut integrity, and
animal performance.
This is mainly caused by
the detrimental effects
mycotoxins have on the
immune system, the gut barrier or the oxidative status of the
animals. Effects that can be seen are, for instance, enlarged or
shrunken organs as well as inflamed tissues. Binding components
efficacy is essential to prevent the maximum of toxins from
entering the digestive tract.
But as mycotoxins and their metabolites are so numerous with
different chemical structures (polarity, size, conformation, etc),
no binder is able to bind efficiently all categories of mycotoxins.
In addition to special care to prevent the growth of moulds,
detoxification measures, reduction of gastrointestinal absorption
with mycotoxin binders, there is a need for prevention of the
mycotoxin-induced toxic effects once the toxin is ingested.
Nutritional approaches, such as supplementation of nutrients,
food components, or additives with protective effects against
mycotoxin toxicity are gaining interest. In response, Dr Eckel
has developed a new generation of mycotoxin binder to face the
challenges of modern animal production.
Comprehensive solution fights 4 main toxicity
mechanisms
Anta®
Ferm MT FlavoMax is a comprehensive solution that
targets the 4 main toxicity mechanisms to prevent the harmful
effects of a wide range of mycotoxins. Anta®
Ferm MT FlavoMax
impacts directly on the toxins (binding components) and on the
animal, activating its own natural defences (fig 1):
• Binding of mycotoxins
• Reduction of oxidative stress
• Protection of the gut barrier function including anti-
inflammatory effects along the digestive tract
• Modulation of the immune system
Binding of mycotoxins
Anta®
Ferm MT Flavomax includes a proven combination
of selected mineral clays and yeast cell walls, showing an
excellent binding efficacy of different mycotoxins (Lohölter et
al. 2013). The selected mineral clays bind mycotoxins in their
interlayers by a process called chemisorption. Yeast cell walls are
composed of complex polymers of β-(1,3)/(1,6) glucan, mannan-­
oligosaccharide (MOS) and chitin. MOS is located on the surface
of the cell wall and plays an important role in binding mycotoxins
and improving the micro-environment of the animal’s digestive
tract. The efficacy of glucomannan-containing yeast products as
mycotoxin absorbents in feed has been investigated in several
studies on animals. As a mycotoxin binder, yeast cell walls have
numerous characteristics including:
Binding mycotoxins, especially
zearalenone (ZEN); unaffected by
the pH of the gastrointestinal tract;
without changing nutritional value
(regarding mineral and vitamin) in
feed; no residue in animal.
Reduction of oxidative stress.
Some mycotoxins (ie, OTA, FB1,
AFB1, DON, and T2) have been
known to produce damages by
increasing oxidative stress. The
animal has to detoxify mycotoxins,
which is called xenobiotic
metabolisation. During this
detoxification process, free radicals
are produced that increase levels of
oxidative stress resulting in DNA
damage, lipid peroxidation and
More than a mycotoxin binder…
Anta®
Ferm MT FlavoMax
by Monika Korzekwa, Dr Eckel
54 | January 2016 - Milling and Grain
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4. inflammation or cell death. Practical implications can be reduced
health status, increased incidence and severity of inflammations
or skin disorders. The flavonoids in Anta®
Ferm MT FlavoMax
have shown to reduce oxidative stress by deactivating reactive
radicals in the body (Gessner et al 2013).
Protection of the gut barrier function including anti-
inflammatory effects along the digestive tract
The intestinal epithelium has many different functions. One
is the absorption of nutrients. It is also the first protective
barrier between the gut lumen and the animal’s blood
stream. Several studies have shown that mycotoxins such
as DON and OTA reduce the protective function of the gut
wall. A meta-analysis published by Grenier and Applegate
(2013) reviews how mycotoxins can modulate intestinal
functions. In terms of morphology of the intestinal villi,
studies show that feeding poultry low or moderate levels
of deoxynivalenol (DON) alone or combined with other
fusariotoxins leads to a reduction in villi height in both the
duodenum and jejunum. Practical implications can range
from diarrhoea, inflammation and fever to reduced feed
efficiency. In a series of trials, the plant based ingredients
in Anta®
Ferm MT FlavoMax have shown to act as an anti-
inflammatory agent along the digestive tract, having a
positive effect on the integrity of the intestinal epithelium
resulting in an improved feed conversion ratio (fig 2).
Modulation of the immune system
Since not all mycotoxins can be neutralised by binding, it is
important to include additional mechanisms that go beyond
binding to maintain optimal performance. A well-functioning
immune system contributes to high performing animals.
Anta®
Ferm MT FlavoMax includes B-Glucans, which have
been shown to activate macrophages, improve lymphocyte
proliferation, reduce pathogen attachment and improve
vaccination response – a powerful boost for the immune
system.
Binding components efficacy is essential to prevent
the maximum of toxins from entering the digestive tract.
But as mycotoxins and their metabolites are so numerous
with so many different chemical structures (polarity, size,
conformation, etc), no binder is able to bind efficiently all
categories of mycotoxins in a sufficient way. Anta®
Ferm
MT FlavoMax stimulates an animal’s natural defences in
three essential ways: it prevents tissues peroxidation, boosts
immune response and reduces inflammation along the
digestive tract caused by mycotoxins.
Milling and Grain - January 2016 | 57
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