Dr. Cao, Lachance Chief Technology Officer, takes you on a deep dive into the story and significance behind Lachance bile acids.
Since the launch of Lachance's bile acid products as a research project under the Ministry of Agriculture in 2010, culminating in the new feed additive certification in 2014, Dr. Ai-Zhi Cao(Lachance CTO), reflects: “Our company’s growth has paralleled the rise of bile acids from a nascent concept to a powerful and established product. Each major breakthrough over the past 14 years has been exhilarating, especially our first approval meeting for bile acid feed additives in December 2012, which remains vivid in my memory.”
Recalling that first approval meeting, Dr. Cao remembers the fierce winds in Beijing the night before, which seemed like an ominous sign, only to wake up to clear skies—rare for Beijing at the time—which lifted everyone’s spirits. The first approval meeting went successfully, with the expert review panel highly commending Lachance’s bile acid product and providing constructive feedback for future rounds of presentations. This laid the groundwork for six subsequent meetings, ultimately leading to the new feed additive certification for bile acids in July 2014.
When asked why bile acids were chosen as the company's core product, Dr. Cao explained that opportunities favor those who observe and seize them. At that time, research was heavily focused on protein-related developments and the application of targeted feed additives (such as enzyme preparations), but there was little exploration of energy feed metabolism. Recognizing this gap, the Lachance team believed that enhancing the digestibility and utilization of energy feed was crucial, especially as the cost of energy feed materials continued to rise. Bile acids demonstrated remarkable potential to improve energy digestibility, and Lachance seized the opportunity to invest in their development.
Dr. Cao: “Our main raw materials for bile acids are widely sourced and maintain stable active compounds, supporting our industrial-scale production.”Since the 2014 certification, Lachance has expanded the application of bile acids to a wide range of animals, including broiler, carnivorous freshwater fish, weaned piglets, shrimp, ruminants, and pets, while delving into their mechanisms and effects. Lachance has published numerous research papers and achieved significant scientific results, contributing to liver and gallbladder health in animals—benefits that distinguish it from other bile acid producers.
As for the main functions of bile acids, Dr. Cao emphasized:
- Emulsification: Due to bile acids' amphiphilic properties, they emulsify fats in the intestine, breaking them into smaller droplets and aiding digestion.
- Facilitating Fat Digestion: Bile acids activate pancreatic lipase in the intestine, essential for digesting fats.
- Transporting Fatty Acids: Bile acids help transport and absorb fatty acids.
- Detoxifying and Protecting the Liver: By binding endotoxins (e.g., lipopolysaccharides or metabolic byproducts of drugs), bile acids reduce the intestinal absorption of toxins, protecting the liver.
- Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Effects: Deoxycholic acid (DCA) can damage bacterial cell membranes, while cholic acid (CA) inhibits certain gastrointestinal bacteria.
Dr. Cao emphasizes that bile acids play a crucial role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis in animals. Research shows bile acids are vital for energy regulation, widely used in production.
Since 2004, Lachance has focused on animal liver health, establishing a dedicated research center. To advance this work, the company established the Liver Health and Homeostasis Regulation Institute with Nanjing Agricultural University in May 2021 to integrate multi-level research on liver health and develop bioregulation technologies.
As a leader in bile acid standards, Lachance is actively working on the “National Standard for Bile Acids.” Dr. Cao states, “The current detection methods only identify bile acid presence, not specific components or concentrations. We aim to set quality standards, ensuring bile acid use is safer and more effective. The national standard will offer guidance for bile acid production and application.”
To improve quality and safety, a national standard plan titled Feed Additive Part 13: Other Bile Acids was proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, led by China Agricultural University, Lachance Group, and Tongwei Co., Ltd. Expected to be enforced by November 2023, this standard will support safe and effective production, strengthening the livestock industry's international influence.
