Critical review examines nano/microencapsulation of feed additives in ruminant production settings

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 6, 2026 Medically reviewed May 6, 2026 Study authors: Edwin Oswaldo Botia Carreño, Mona Mohamed Mohamed Yasseen Elghandour, Pasquale De Palo, Aristide Mag… DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note that safety and efficacy data for nano/microencapsulated feed additives in ruminants were not reported in this critical review.

This critical review evaluates the application of nano/microencapsulation technology for feed additives derived from plants and probiotics within ruminant production settings. The scope of the review focuses on comparing these bioactive compounds against traditional additives. The authors synthesize arguments regarding secondary outcomes such as ruminal and intestinal microbiome modulation, enteric methane mitigation, nutrient absorption, energy efficiency, and milk production. Additionally, the review addresses potential toxicological challenges associated with these novel delivery systems.

The authors indicate that the primary outcome was not reported in the source material. Furthermore, specific adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability data were not reported. The review does not provide specific sample sizes or follow-up durations as these details were not reported. Consequently, the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of these interventions remains qualitative rather than quantitative.

Practice relevance is not reported by the authors. The review highlights the need for further investigation to determine the clinical utility of these technologies. Clinicians should interpret these findings with caution given the lack of reported safety data and the absence of specific numerical outcomes in the source text.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

The latest advances in nutrition, microbiology, and omics sciences are redefining strategies to improve health indices and productivity in livestock. A novel strategy focuses on the deliberate modulation of rumen and intestinal microbiome ecosystems, which, besides being complex, are crucial for animal performance. The use of feed additives, such as bioactive compounds derived from plants and probiotics, has a long tradition supported by their known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, among others. However, their practical efficacy is often compromised by their high susceptibility to degradation. Environmental factors such as light, temperature, and harsh conditions like extreme pH and enzymatic and microbiota activity in the gastrointestinal tract of livestock can inactivate these compounds before they reach their site of action to exert the beneficial effects mentioned above. To solve this challenge, nanotechnology, specifically micro- and nanoencapsulation techniques, presents an innovative solution. These strategies can protect bioactive compounds, providing controlled release and targeted delivery to specific absorption sites. This design not only optimizes probiotic survival and bioavailability of bioactive compounds but also facilitates more effective modulation of ruminal and intestinal microbial communities. Recent evidence indicates that this modulation translates into tangible productive benefits, such as better nutrient absorption and higher energy efficiency, positively impacting parameters like milk production. Additionally, these encapsulation techniques improve the efficiency of these bioactive compounds to mitigate enteric methane emissions by altering ruminal fermentation patterns. This review critically analyzes the mechanisms, applications, and potential of encapsulation technologies in ruminant production. Special emphasis is placed on how these delivery systems represent a significant advance toward precision nutrition. Indeed, the efficacy of encapsulation for microbiota manipulation and toxicological challenges for safe and sustainable implementation is discussed. This critical review addresses the following questions: (1) Under what conditions could encapsulation offer real advantages over traditional additives in ruminant livestock? (2) Are there biologically significant differences between nano- and microencapsulation in the ruminal environment? (3) How are changes in the ruminal microbiota translated into productive performance and environmental impact? (4) What is the balance between productive and environmental sustainability benefits versus the toxicological risks of nanomaterials?