When sheep eat too much grain and not enough hay, their livers can get damaged. Researchers found that adding a special salt called disodium fumarate to their diet helped protect their livers. The salt worked by improving the stomach environment and turning down harmful genes that were causing damage. This study used 18 lactating sheep divided into three groups: one eating normal diet, one eating high-grain diet, and one eating high-grain diet with the special salt added. After 8 weeks, the sheep getting the salt had healthier livers with less inflammation and damage compared to those on the high-grain diet alone.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether adding a food additive called disodium fumarate to sheep feed could prevent liver damage caused by eating too much grain
  • Who participated: 18 female lactating sheep (a breed called Hu sheep) that were producing milk, divided equally into three groups of 6 sheep each
  • Key finding: Sheep that received disodium fumarate supplementation showed significantly less liver damage, inflammation, and cellular stress compared to sheep eating high-grain diets without the supplement. The protective effect appeared to work through changes in how genes were being expressed in the liver.
  • What it means for you: This research suggests that disodium fumarate may be a useful feed additive for livestock farmers to protect animal health when high-grain diets are necessary. However, this was tested only in sheep, so results may not directly apply to other animals or humans without further research.

The Research Details

This was a controlled animal study where researchers divided 18 lactating sheep into three equal groups. One group ate a normal diet with mostly hay (70%) and some grain (30%). The second group ate a high-grain diet (70% grain, 30% hay) which is known to cause liver problems. The third group also ate the high-grain diet but received an additional 10 grams of disodium fumarate (a food additive) mixed into their feed each day. After 8 weeks on these diets, the researchers collected samples from the sheep’s stomach fluid, blood from the vein carrying blood to the liver, and liver tissue itself to measure various markers of health and damage.

The researchers measured multiple things in these samples: inflammation markers, signs of cellular stress in the liver, damage to the tiny energy factories inside cells (mitochondria), and changes in gene activity. They also looked at epigenetic changes, which are like switches that turn genes on or off without changing the actual DNA sequence itself.

This research design is important because it carefully controlled all the variables except for the disodium fumarate supplement. By having three groups—normal diet, high-grain diet without supplement, and high-grain diet with supplement—the researchers could clearly see what damage the high-grain diet causes and whether the supplement actually prevents it. Testing this in living animals is more realistic than laboratory tests alone, because it shows how the whole body system responds.

This study has several strengths: it used a randomized design where sheep were randomly assigned to groups, it had a clear control group for comparison, and it measured multiple markers of liver health rather than just one. The sample size of 18 animals is reasonable for this type of animal research. However, the study was conducted only in sheep, so we cannot be certain the results would apply to other animals or humans. The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means other experts reviewed it before publication. The research was conducted recently (2026) with modern laboratory techniques.

What the Results Show

The high-grain diet caused significant problems in the sheep’s livers. The grain-heavy diet lowered the pH (made it more acidic) in the sheep’s stomach, which allowed harmful bacteria toxins called LPS to leak into the bloodstream and reach the liver. This triggered inflammation and cellular stress in the liver cells.

When disodium fumarate was added to the high-grain diet, it prevented most of these problems. The supplement helped restore the normal pH in the stomach, which reduced the amount of bacterial toxins entering the bloodstream. More importantly, the supplement appeared to protect liver cells by reducing cellular stress and inflammation through changes in gene activity.

The researchers found that the supplement worked partly by changing epigenetic markers—essentially turning down the activity of genes that were causing damage. These changes in gene activity were directly linked to less liver damage and inflammation in the sheep receiving the supplement.

The study found that the high-grain diet caused damage to mitochondria (the energy-producing structures inside cells) and triggered excessive autophagy (a cellular cleanup process that, when overdone, can be harmful). The disodium fumarate supplement reduced both of these problems. The supplement also reduced the activity of stress-response genes in the liver, which normally get activated when cells are in trouble. Additionally, the researchers found that the supplement increased DNA methylation—a type of epigenetic change that can reduce the expression of harmful genes.

Previous research has shown that high-grain diets in ruminant animals (like sheep and cattle) can cause liver damage and inflammation. This study builds on that knowledge by showing that disodium fumarate, which was already known to improve stomach health, may also directly protect the liver through epigenetic mechanisms. The finding that epigenetic changes play a role in the protective effect is relatively novel and adds a new understanding of how this supplement works beyond just improving stomach pH.

This study was conducted only in sheep, so we cannot assume the same results would occur in cattle, goats, or other animals without testing. The study was relatively short (8 weeks), so we don’t know if the protective effects would continue long-term or if any tolerance would develop. The study did not test different doses of disodium fumarate, so we don’t know if higher or lower amounts might work better. Additionally, this research was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting with specific sheep breeds, so results might differ in real-world farm conditions. The study also did not examine potential side effects or long-term safety of the supplement.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, disodium fumarate appears to be a promising feed additive for protecting livestock livers when high-grain diets are necessary (moderate confidence level). The evidence suggests a dose of 10 grams per sheep daily may be effective, though this should be confirmed in larger studies and in real farm settings. Farmers should consult with veterinarians or animal nutritionists before implementing this supplement, as individual farm conditions vary.

This research is most relevant to livestock farmers and veterinarians who work with ruminant animals (sheep, goats, cattle) and need to feed high-grain diets for economic or practical reasons. Feed manufacturers and animal nutrition companies may also be interested in developing products based on these findings. Pet owners and people should not assume these results apply to them without further research in humans. This is not a recommendation for human consumption without extensive additional safety and efficacy testing.

In this study, protective effects were observed after 8 weeks of supplementation. Farmers implementing this strategy should expect to see improvements in animal health markers within 6-8 weeks, though individual results may vary. Long-term benefits and whether the protection continues indefinitely remain unknown and would require longer studies.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • For livestock farmers using a nutrition tracking app: Log daily disodium fumarate supplementation amount (grams per animal), monitor liver enzyme levels in blood tests monthly, and track feed intake and animal weight weekly to assess overall health impact.
  • Farmers could use an app to set reminders for daily supplement administration, track which animals received supplementation, and log any observed changes in animal behavior, coat condition, or milk production (for dairy animals) that might indicate improved health.
  • Implement quarterly liver function blood tests to monitor enzyme levels and inflammation markers. Track these results over time in the app to see if supplementation is maintaining liver health. Also monitor rumen pH if possible, as this is the mechanism through which the supplement works. Compare health metrics between supplemented and non-supplemented animals to assess real-world effectiveness.

This research was conducted in sheep and has not been tested in humans. The findings should not be applied to human diet or health without extensive additional research specifically in humans. If you are a livestock farmer considering using disodium fumarate as a feed supplement, consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist before implementation, as individual animal health conditions and farm circumstances vary. This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary or medical advice. Always follow local regulations regarding feed additives and consult with qualified professionals before making changes to animal nutrition programs.