Illinois research found that including sodium gluconate, calcium gluconate, glucono-delta-lactone, and/or 2-hydroxy-4-methylthio butanoic acid improved phytate phosphorus utilization in chicks fed a corn-soybean meal diet. These organic acids significantly increased (P<0.05) chick weight and tibia ash. Increasing tibia ash in chicks fed a 0.16 percent non-phytate phosphorus diet, but not in chicks fed a 0.45 percent non-phytate phosphorus diet indicated the responses of the organic acids were due to increase in phosphorus utilization.

Parson, C.M and R.A. Jungk. 2004. Organic acids improve phosphorus utilization in chicks fed a corn soybean meal diet. Presentation #290, p149 of the 2004 Joint Annual Meeting abstracts.