Evaluation of various betaine sources and investigations on the stability of vitamins in dependence on the supplementation of choline chloride or different betaine sources

Betaine at pH 4.5 showed in the positive electro spray ionization mode of the total ion chromatogram for both the protonated molecules [M+H]+ (m/z retention time of about 2.7 min) at m/z 118 and for the cluster at m/z 235 [2M+H]+ and m/z 257 [2M+Na]+ a high intensity (table 2). Based on these data it can be concluded that betaine dissolved in acidic solutions (pH 4.5) also leads to similar quantitative results by LC-MS analysis.

The results show that betaine molecules after simulated gastric passage (pH 2.3 and pH 4.5) are presented independent of the chemical bonding form and type of production (extraction from sugar beet or chemical synthesis) as identical molecules in dissociated form (same m/z retention times in the LC-MS and MS), which is considered as evidence that the betaine binding form and the type of the production does not affect the biological activity and osmoregulatory function.

Stability of vitamins in dependence of the supplementation of choline chloride or different sources of betaine

In the second study betaine hydrochloride, choline chloride or betaine anhydrous were added to a premix for piglets (dosage 0.5% in the diet) and the influence of a storage of up to 6 months (measured at 0, 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 months) was examined for the change in the dry matter content as well as the degradation of vitamin A (tables 3 and 4). The products tested were choline chloride 60% on an organic carrier with 52% choline and betaine hydrochloride with 70.9% betaine and betaine anhydrous with 93% betaine.

The selection of the vitamin to be tested was partly based on the Shurson et al. (2010) proposed rankings, it was also taken into account what vitamins are critically evaluated by premix manufacturers and what vitamins are most common analysed in official investigations. The analysis of the vitamin contents in the premix were performed according to standard procedures for vitamins in premixes (analysis latitude 5%) by an independent laboratory (Oleotest, Lageweg 427, 2660 Antwerp, Belgium). The hygroscopicity measurements were performed in the laboratory of the premix manufacturer (Vitamex, Booiebos 5, 9031 Drongen, Belgium) and the method applied corresponded to the standard laboratory analysis for measuring hygroscopicity. Air at 80% relative humidity flowed through a saturated ammonium chloride solution and then through the matrix to be examined at a constant storage temperature of 20oC and 37oC, the test material was then weighed every two hours until a constant final weight was reached. The results were calculated as follows and illustrated:

= (% Weight gain + % free water) / (100 + % increase in weight) * 100 Provision of free water by 6-hour drying at 87°C
Rating scale results:

• <10.0% virtually non-hygroscopic
• 10.1 to 15.0% low hygroscopic
• 15.1 to 20.0% moderately hygroscopic
• 20.1 to 25.0% very hygroscopic
• > 25.0% extremely hygroscopic

Results

The analysed levels of choline and betaine show that dependent of a storage time of up to 3 months a reduction of up to 20% has to be assumed. An influence of storage temperature, however, was not observed. A clear trend in differences in stability between the different products studied here from this research approach could not be derived (table 5).

The storage period had a significant influence on the degradation of vitamin A in premixes (table 6). This was, for example, in the control group after 6 months (20°C storage temperature) approximately 25%, as well as in the premixes containing choline chloride or betaine anhydrous. Remarkable was the much smaller decrease of about 10% in the premix containing betaine hydrochloride. The influence of the storage temperature was also difficult to see here. Only in the premix containing choline chloride significantly lower levels of vitamin A could be detected after 3 and 6 month in contrast to the other experimental groups.

The individual added feed additives and especially the supplementation of choline chloride and betaine anhydrous significantly influenced the hygroscopic properties of the respective premixes (table 7). The measured moisture values for these additives were with about 12.0% far higher than by the use of betaine hydrochloride (7.5%) or in the control group (3.3%) and thus demonstrate the high risk of adverse hygroscopic properties of these products. In addition, this can at least partially explain the increased degradation rate of vitamin A by use of choline chloride, suggesting that it seems to be a combined negative effect of hygroscopicity and reactivity.

Summary

Betaine is widely used as feed additive in animal nutrition, where it is used primarily as a substitute for choline chloride, which is generally considered hygroscopic and difficult to process. Betaine is available in various chemically bound forms from a variety of manufacturing processes, although the biological properties (bioactivity) of the individual origins and production methods are still controversially debated to date. In the studies presented here could be shown that several sources of betaine in LC-MS analyses provide identical results, after which of conclusion, the biological activity of each betaine source can be equated. In our experiment, where the stability of premixes containing vitamin A was observed, it was demonstrated, that a storage time of 6 months (normal storage temperature) is accompanied by a reduction in vitamin A of about 25%. Only in the premix with betaine hydrochloride was a significantly smaller decrease of only about 10% demonstrated. An influence of an elevated storage temperature could only be found after 3 and 6 months in the premix that contained choline. With regard to the hygroscopic properties especially the supplementation of choline chloride and betaine anhydrous affected the stability of the respective premixes, the measured moisture values were up about 12.0%, much higher than with the use of betaine hydrochloride (7.5%) or in the negative control group (3.3%).