↗ public sourceswww.addeasygroup.com/index/Animal/product.html?cid1=1&cid2=2&cid3=9· 4 studies, 2 independent/mixed
Evidence · strong
The active substance is backed by 4 studies including meta-analyses; the verdict per claim below reflects what the literature actually shows, not the brochure. Strength reflects the active substance, not the brand.
What the manufacturer claims
Free
Captured from the product page, typed and attributed — the producer’s own statements, checked against the literature below.
Bioavailability
A stable methionine precursor: metabolised to L-methionine to support growth, protein synthesis and physiological maintenance
Economic
Cost-efficient methionine source
Physiological
As a calcium salt, provides an additional source of calcium for balanced diet formulation
Manufacturer’s own words — not independently verified. The ledger below gives the evidence verdict for each.
Claim ↔ evidence ledger
Verdict free · receipts in Power
Each claim against the studies on the active substance, with the funding split. Open a row for the studies behind the verdict.
Claim
Verdict
Evidence & funding
BioavailabilityA stable methionine precursor: metabolised to L-methionine to support growth, protei…
Supported
3 studies · 67% indep
›
Read It is unambiguously an effective methionine source; the consensus is ≈65% bioefficacy vs DL-Met per kg.
2024
Meta-analyses of methionine source concept validation trials in broilersDL-Met and MHA effect sizes not significantly different when DL-Met replaces MHA at a 65:100 weight ratio (≈65% bioefficacy); near-zero heterogeneity
Bioavailability of the calcium salt of DL-methionine hydroxy analog vs DL-methionine for nitrogen retention in nursery pigsMHA forms ≈65% as effective as DL-Met on a product basis (≈74% equimolar) for nitrogen retention in growing pigs
Comparison of DL-Met, MHA-Ca and MHA-free acid in broilers using a crystalline amino acid dietMHA-Ca grew faster and improved FCR vs MHA-free acid at later ages
Read Cost-efficiency is real only if priced per unit of available methionine, since ≈1.5× more product is needed than DL-Met.
2018
Relative bioavailability of MHA-Ca compared to DL-methionine in starter and finisher broilersMean RBA of MHA-Ca vs DL-Met ≈61% on a product (weight) basis, independent of feeding phase
PhysiologicalAs a calcium salt, provides an additional source of calcium for balanced diet formul…
Not addressed
no study
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The calcium contribution is trivially true (it is a calcium salt) but not a researched performance endpoint.
IndependentMixedIndustryNone/undisclosed
Bottom line. MethiCa is a methionine hydroxy analogue calcium salt — a genuine, well-established methionine source metabolised to L-methionine.
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Evidence — on the active substance
Table free · full-text in Power
Why these studies The evidence for a proprietary product is the evidence for its active substance. These are the studies (meta-analyses first) behind the verdicts above, with funding labelled.
Year
Study & effect size
Funding
Type
Access
2024
Meta-analyses of methionine source concept validation trials in broilersDL-Met and MHA effect sizes not significantly different when DL-Met replaces MHA at a 65:100 weight ratio (≈65% bioefficacy); near-zero heterogeneity
Relative bioavailability of MHA-Ca compared to DL-methionine in starter and finisher broilersMean RBA of MHA-Ca vs DL-Met ≈61% on a product (weight) basis, independent of feeding phase
Bioavailability of the calcium salt of DL-methionine hydroxy analog vs DL-methionine for nitrogen retention in nursery pigsMHA forms ≈65% as effective as DL-Met on a product basis (≈74% equimolar) for nitrogen retention in growing pigs
Comparison of DL-Met, MHA-Ca and MHA-free acid in broilers using a crystalline amino acid dietMHA-Ca grew faster and improved FCR vs MHA-free acid at later ages
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Analysis & tools
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The working map a maker won’t give you — built only from the evidence on this page. Nothing here is marketing.
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Open the analyst workbench
Dose benchmark, the independent-vs-sponsored split, the pooled meta-analysis effects, the contradictions and the gaps — all derived from the studies above.
Dose: label vs effective trial range vs EU max
Independence-of-evidence breakdown
Pooled meta-analysis effect sizes
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Dose benchmark
Label / recommendedTo methionine requirement
Effective in trialsRBA ≈61-72% vs DL-Met (product basis)
EU maximumSet by methionine requirement, not a maximum
Practically dosed ≈1.5× the DL-Met weight equivalent to deliver the same available methionine.
Functional groupAmino acids, their salts and analogues
Meta-analysis effects (pooled)
methionine bioefficacy vs DL-Met Industry≈65% on a product (weight) basis; equivalent at 65:100 inclusion · n=25
Pooled estimates from the systematic reviews/meta-analyses above — the closest thing to a settled answer.
Discussion — grounded in the evidence
MethiCa is a methionine hydroxy analogue calcium salt — a genuine, well-established methionine source metabolised to L-methionine.
The consistent finding across multiple meta-analyses and trials is that MHA-Ca delivers ≈65% of DL-methionine's effect per kilogram (≈61-72% range).
So it works, but must be included at roughly 1.5× the DL-Met weight equivalent; 'cost-efficient' holds only when priced per unit of available methionine.
The bioavailability literature is industry-heavy on both sides (DL-Met vs MHA makers), but independent pig and broiler data agree on the ≈65% figure.
Being a calcium salt, it also contributes dietary calcium — a minor, self-evident benefit rather than a performance claim.
Where studies disagree: Framing differs by sponsor: DL-Met makers stress that MHA-Ca is 'only ≈65%' as effective per kg, while MHA makers stress it is fully effective at the correct (≈1.5×) inclusion — both rest on the same ≈65% weight-basis figure.
Gaps: Most bioavailability evidence is industry-generated (on both sides), though independent academic data agree. No product-specific patent or CAS captured.
Manufacturer’s stated mechanism (their words): MHA-Ca is the calcium salt of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid, a methionine precursor absorbed and then converted to L-methionine, supplying the sulphur amino acid needed for growth and protein synthesis; the calcium counter-ion adds dietary calcium.
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Put this beside alternatives on the same active substance (e.g. HMBi / other rumen-protected methionine), and take the data with you.
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