Brand SQM · Manufacturer Quali Tech (US); distributed by Actifeed
↗ public sourceswww.actifeed.com/en/sqm.html· 4 studies, 4 independent/mixed
Evidence · moderate
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
Higher bioavailability than inorganic trace minerals via a protective polysaccharide complex.
Physiological
Withstands antagonists that hamper absorption of trace minerals.
Performance
Benefits both rumen microbes and target tissues (supports performance/health).
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
BioavailabilityHigher bioavailability than inorganic trace minerals via a protective polysaccharide…
Supported
2 studies · 50% indep
›
Read Higher bioavailability of organic over inorganic minerals is supported by systematic review and meta-analysis, but the magnitude is ligand- and product-specific.
2022
Relative bioavailability of trace minerals in production animal nutrition: a PRISMA systematic review (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn)Systematic review: organic trace-mineral sources generally show higher relative bioavailability than inorganic sulphates/oxides for copper, iron, manganese and zinc, with differences between specific organic types.
Effect of chelated trace-mineral (proteinate) supplementation on broiler performance and mineral excretion: a meta-analysisMeta-analysis: minerals bound to amino-acid/peptide ligands show enhanced stability, absorption and bioavailability versus inorganic, supporting reduced inclusion and lower excretion.
PhysiologicalWithstands antagonists that hamper absorption of trace minerals.
Supported
1 study · 100% indep
›
Read Antagonist resistance is consistent with lower organic inclusion matching higher inorganic for immune/performance endpoints.
2021
Effects of organic vs inorganic trace minerals (Zn, Se, Cr) on immune response in broilersOrganic trace minerals at lower inclusion (e.g. 20 mg/kg organic Zn vs 40 mg/kg inorganic) supported immune responses comparable to or better than higher inorganic inclusion.
PerformanceBenefits both rumen microbes and target tissues (supports performance/health).
Mixed
1 study · 100% indep
›
Read Performance/bone/immune benefits are modest and most evident at reduced inclusion or under stress; in adequate diets, gains are small.
2024
Influence of trace-mineral sources and levels on growth, carcass, bone, oxidative stress and immunity of broilersLow levels of organic trace minerals improved starter-phase FCR and increased fillet/thigh yields versus commercial inorganic levels, while reducing mineral excretion; other endpoints were similar.
Bottom line. The core claim — organic/complexed trace minerals are more bioavailable than inorganic sulphates/oxides — is supported by a PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis.
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Composition
Free
● Disclosed by manufacturer
metal polysaccharide complexes (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn)organic trace elements
◆ Referenced — with resolving source
None referenced with a resolving source yet.
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
2022
Relative bioavailability of trace minerals in production animal nutrition: a PRISMA systematic review (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn)Systematic review: organic trace-mineral sources generally show higher relative bioavailability than inorganic sulphates/oxides for copper, iron, manganese and zinc, with differences between specific organic types.
Effect of chelated trace-mineral (proteinate) supplementation on broiler performance and mineral excretion: a meta-analysisMeta-analysis: minerals bound to amino-acid/peptide ligands show enhanced stability, absorption and bioavailability versus inorganic, supporting reduced inclusion and lower excretion.
Influence of trace-mineral sources and levels on growth, carcass, bone, oxidative stress and immunity of broilersLow levels of organic trace minerals improved starter-phase FCR and increased fillet/thigh yields versus commercial inorganic levels, while reducing mineral excretion; other endpoints were similar.
Effects of organic vs inorganic trace minerals (Zn, Se, Cr) on immune response in broilersOrganic trace minerals at lower inclusion (e.g. 20 mg/kg organic Zn vs 40 mg/kg inorganic) supported immune responses comparable to or better than higher inorganic inclusion.
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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.
bioavailability + excretion (poultry) Mixed fundingHigher bioavailability and lower excretion vs inorganic
Pooled estimates from the systematic reviews/meta-analyses above — the closest thing to a settled answer.
Discussion — grounded in the evidence
The core claim — organic/complexed trace minerals are more bioavailable than inorganic sulphates/oxides — is supported by a PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis.
The practical benefit is realised mainly at reduced inclusion: lower organic levels match higher inorganic levels on performance/immunity while cutting mineral excretion.
'Organic' is a broad category and bioavailability is ligand-dependent; polysaccharide complexes are generally weaker chelates than some amino-acid proteinates, so the SQM-specific magnitude is not separately established.
In diets already adequate in trace minerals, the performance gain over inorganic is small.
EU-authorised as a compound of trace elements; organic forms help meet tightened Cu/Zn limits at lower inclusion.
Where studies disagree: 'Organic trace mineral' is a broad category: bioavailability varies widely by ligand (polysaccharide complexes are generally weaker chelates than some amino-acid proteinates), so the SQM-specific advantage is not pinned down. In diets already adequate in trace minerals, the performance benefit over inorganic is small — the main gains are at reduced inclusion and lower excretion.
Gaps: Few SQM-specific (metal polysaccharide complex) head-to-head trials versus other organic forms. Ruminant-specific data (the marketed '100% inclusion / rumen microbe' benefit) are thinner than the poultry/pig literature.
Manufacturer’s stated mechanism (their words): Trace minerals are wrapped in a polysaccharide 'escort' that shields them from dietary antagonists (e.g. phytate, fibre, competing ions) until absorption. This raises bioavailability versus inorganic sulphates/oxides, allowing lower dietary inclusion and reduced mineral excretion.
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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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