Vitamins and minerals are classified as essential nutrients. They play a vital role in maintaining health, supporting function, regulating metabolic processes, enabling reproduction, and ensuring the development and repair of body tissues. They are most commonly added to feed mixtures as premixes or vitamin and mineral supplements. The advantage of using premixes is that they ensure a uniform distribution of micronutrients within the feed; however, a disadvantage is the potential for interactions between ingredients within the premix, which can reduce the stability of vitamins and minerals and accelerate oxidation. These effects can be mitigated through the use of natural and synthetic antioxidants. The stability of vitamins and minerals in the feed is also influenced by environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, the presence of air, and exposure to light, which can accelerate their degradation. Vitamin stability can be further compromised by the presence of choline chloride and certain minerals, such as zinc and copper, which participate in redox reactions. Processing methods such as pelleting and extrusion also significantly affect stability. However, a review of the literature indicates that vitamin losses can be decreased by using microencapsulated vitamins, organically bound minerals, and antioxidants, as well as by reducing storage times and minimizing the use of pre-prepared premixes. Selecting the appropriate premix composition, processing methods, and storage conditions is crucial for maintaining the stability of vitamins and minerals in feed and ensuring their high nutritional value.
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