Date: 01/11/2025

In modern animal nutrition, understanding the mechanisms of digestion, absorption, and utilization of proteins is essential for developing diets with greater biological efficiency.

In this context, bioactive peptides, which are small chains of amino acids released during protein hydrolysis, have been gaining prominence for their rapid absorption, high bioavailability, and ability to modulate essential physiological processes such as immunity, metabolism, and intestinal integrity.

Based on these principles, the BioActio line, developed by MBRF Ingredients, applies controlled enzymatic hydrolysis processes to generate bioactive peptides, used in solutions that promote feed efficiency, intestinal balance, and animal welfare in different species.

In this article, you will discover:

Peptides: the smallest molecules with big impacts

During feeding, the proteins ingested by animals undergo a digestion process that transforms them into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body. Enzymes present in the stomach and intestine break these large chains into smaller fragments, releasing amino acids and small peptides that will be used in the body's metabolism and vital functions.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids formed during protein digestion or controlled enzymatic hydrolysis, which is an increasingly valued biotechnological process in the animal nutrition industry. The method allows ingredients to be transformed into more effective and nutritious forms, enhancing the health and performance of animals.

Foods containing bioactive peptides are more nutritious and effective because, unlike whole proteins, these small fragments are already pre-digested. This means that the body expends less energy to break them down and can absorb them more quickly in the intestine, directly utilizing their amino acids and functional compounds.

This combination of greater bioavailability and bioactive function makes peptide-enriched foods more efficient in promoting animal health and performance. (Korhonen, H., & Pihlanto, A. (2006). Bioactive peptides: Production and functionality

According to Scott Gilbert, in the book Developmental Biology (2019), smaller chain peptides, formed during proteolysis, can be quickly absorbed by the intestine and used directly by the body.

Another relevant effect, resulting from greater nutritional efficiency and improved animal performance, is improved feed conversion. This is because peptides promote efficient utilization of nutrients and essential amino acids, making diets functional and contributing to superior zootechnical performance.

This combination of digestive efficiency, immune support, and nutritional optimization makes formulations with bioactive peptides increasingly valued in the animal nutrition industry, requiring producers to be prepared to meet a growing demand for innovative, high-performance solutions.

From food to cell: the route of peptides in the body

Bioactive peptides are transported through the gastrointestinal tract to the small intestine, where they are absorbed by intestinal mucosal cells through specific transporters and cellular mechanisms that facilitate their passage into the bloodstream.

Once in the systemic circulation, these peptides reach target tissues and organs, interacting with cell receptors and modulating various physiological responses. At this stage, they perform functions such as stimulating protein synthesis, regulating energy metabolism, strengthening the immune response, and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier.

In addition, some peptides already exhibit functional activity during transport itself, influencing nutrient absorption and metabolic signaling along the way. This action contributes to a more efficient use of nutrients provided by the diet, promoting health and zootechnical performance.

According to Hou et al. (2017), bioactive peptides obtained by protein hydrolysis have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties and are capable of improving feed efficiency in different animal species, reinforcing their strategic role in the formulation of functional diets.

Benefits of bioactive peptides in animal feed nutrition

● Immune modulation: Bioactive peptides act to regulate the immune response, strengthening the body's natural defenses. They modulate inflammatory processes and increase the ability to respond to pathogens, contributing to the overall health of animals.

● Intestinal health: These compounds promote the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and help balance the microbiota, favoring nutrient absorption and reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders.

● Muscle metabolism: They stimulate protein synthesis and support tissue regeneration, resulting in better growth, muscle mass maintenance, and physical performance in animals.

● Reduction of oxidative stress: They have antioxidant properties, protecting cells from the harmful effects of free radicals. This contributes to the preservation of cellular health and the functional longevity of tissues.

● Increased feed efficiency: They improve the digestibility and utilization of nutrients in the diet, allowing for more efficient and sustainable feed conversion, with a direct impact on zootechnical performance.

Bioactive peptides in animal nutrition practice

The use of bioactive peptides in animal nutrition represents an advanced approach that goes beyond conventional protein supplementation. Due to their high bioavailability and low molecular weight, these compounds promote more efficient nutrient absorption, optimizing the use of essential amino acids and enhancing protein synthesis.

For diet formulators, the challenge is to balance economic efficiency with high nutritional value, aiming to maximize zootechnical results and animal production performance. In this context, bioactive peptides offer concrete advantages: they accelerate digestion and absorption processes, promote intestinal and immune health, reduce metabolic losses, and increase feed conversion, contributing to healthier and more efficient growth.

In addition, the inclusion of bioactive peptides transforms feed into functional foods, i.e., formulations that go beyond basic nutrition and act preventively, modulating essential physiological responses and promoting animal welfare. This integrated effect is especially relevant in modern production systems, where performance, health, and sustainability must work synergistically.

Learn about the BioActio Health and Performance line

The BioActio line, developed by MBRF Ingredients, brings together high-quality hydrolyzed proteins rich in bioactive peptides capable of enhancing animal health and performance.

The BioActio line is recommended for different segments of animal nutrition, including aquaculture, swine farming, and pet food, offering solutions that combine nutritional efficiency and functionality. With this approach, producers can develop more complete, safer diets that improve zootechnical results, supporting the health, well-being, and performance of their livestock.

Final considerations

The inclusion of bioactive peptides in animal diets demonstrates how functional nutrition can transform production results and animal health. By acting directly on the body, these compounds promote efficient nutrient utilization, support intestinal integrity, and contribute to metabolic balance, resulting in improved performance and well-being.

Solutions such as MBRF Ingredients' BioActio line translate these scientific advances into practical and reliable ingredients that can be applied to different segments of animal production, from aquaculture to pet food. The strategic use of these peptides allows producers to offer more complete, safe, and functional diets, aligning productivity, health, and sustainability.

To continue exploring innovations and best practices in animal nutrition, follow our blog and social media, where updated content on the circular economy and the practical application of functional ingredients is shared regularly.