Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(7):299-307 | DOI: 10.17221/87/2025-CJAS

The mechanism of N-carbamylglutamate promoting arginine synthesis and its application in pig production: A reviewReview

Pei Mao1, MengMeng Gao1, Naizhi Hu1, XiaoLi Zhang1, ChengGang Yan2, ChengSheng Song3, WenFeng Ma ORCID...1
1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China
2 Henan Beimuda Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., LTD, Henan, P.R. China
3 Henan Spring Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co., LTD, Henan, P.R. China

Arginine (Arg) is an essential amino acid that can improve the reproductive capacity, intestinal development, and growth performance of pigs. N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) and N-acetylglutamate (NAG) can activate carbamyl phosphate synthetase I and the Δ1 pyrrolin 5 carboxylate synthetase in mitochondria, promoting the synthesis of citrulline from glutamine and proline, citrulline is the main precursors for the synthesis of Arg, and subsequently increasing the endogenous synthesis of Arg to produce nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines. Compared with Arg, NCG has a longer half-life and does not inhibit the absorption of basic amino acids such as histidine or lysine; thus, it has been developed as a feed additive. This paper reviews the application of NCG as a feed additive in pig production and its possible theoretical mechanism.

Keywords: amino acid substitute; feed additive; performance; swine

Received: June 19, 2025; Accepted: June 10, 2026; Prepublished online: July 23, 2026; Published: July 28, 2026  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Mao P, Gao M, Hu N, Zhang X, ChengGang Y, Song C, Ma W. The mechanism of N-carbamylglutamate promoting arginine synthesis and its application in pig production: A review. Czech Journal of Animal Science. 2026;71(7):299-307. doi: 10.17221/87/2025-CJAS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Ah Mew N, Payan I, Daikhin Y, Nissim I, Nissim I, Tuchman M, Yudkoff M. Effects of a single dose of N-carbamylglutamate on the rate of ureagenesis. Mol Genet Metab. 2009 Dec;98(4):325-30. Erratum in: Mol Gene Metab. 2010 Apr;99(4):440. Go to original source...
    2. Chacher B, Zhu W, Ye JA, Wang DM, Liu JX. Effect of dietary N-carbamoylglutamate on milk production and nitrogen utilization in high-yielding dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2014;97(4):2338-45. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    3. Chen JQ, Li YS, Li ZJ, Lu HX, Zhu PQ, Li CM. Dietary L-arginine supplementation improves semen quality and libido of boars under high ambient temperature. Animal. 2018 Aug;12(8):1611-20. Go to original source...
    4. Dai ZL, Li XL, Xi PB, Zhang J, Wu G, Zhu WY. Regulatory role for L-arginine in the utilization of amino acids by pig small-intestinal bacteria. Amino Acids. 2012 Jul;43(1):233-44. Go to original source...
    5. Geng M, Li T, Kong X, Song X, Chu W, Huang R, Yin Y, Wu G. Reduced expression of intestinal N-acetylglutamate synthase in suckling piglets: A novel molecular mechanism for arginine as a nutritionally essential amino acid for neonates. Amino Acids. 2011 May;40(5):1513-22. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Hu N, Mao P, Xiong X, Ma Z, Xie Z, Gao M, Wu Q, Ma W. Effect of N-carbamylglutamate supplementation on growth performance, jejunal morphology, amino acid transporters, and antioxidant ability of weaned pigs. Animals (Basel). 2023 Oct 12;13(20):3183. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Jobgen WS, Fried SK, Fu WJ, Meininger CJ, Wu G. Regulatory role for the arginine-nitric oxide pathway in metabolism of energy substrates. J Nutr Biochem. 2006 Sep;17(9):571-88. Go to original source...
    8. Kim S, Paik WK, Cohen PP. Ammonia intoxication in rats: Protection by N-carbamoyl-L-glutamate plus L-arginine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Dec;69(12):3530-3. Go to original source...
    9. Kim JH, Heo KN, Odle J, Han K, Harrell RJ. Liquid diets accelerate the growth of early-weaned pigs and the effects are maintained to market weight. J Anim Sci. 2001 Feb;79(2):427-34. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Klindt J. Influence of litter size and creep feeding on preweaning gain and influence of preweaning growth on growth to slaughter in barrows. J Anim Sci. 2003 Oct;81(10):2434-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Krause BJ, Carrasco-Wong I, Caniuguir A, Carvajal J, Farias M, Casanello P. Endothelial eNOS/arginase imbalance contributes to vascular dysfunction in IUGR umbilical and placental vessels. Placenta. 2013 Jan;34(1):20-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    12. Kwon H, Spencer TE, Bazer FW, Wu G. Developmental changes of amino acids in ovine fetal fluids. Biol Reprod. 2003 May;68(5):1813-20. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. Li PL, Wu F, Wang YM, Wang CP, Zhou JY, Zeng XF, Qiao SY. Combination of non-protein nitrogen and N-carbamylglutamate supplementation improves growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs fed low protein diets. Anim Feed Sci Technol. 2021 Mar;273:114753. Go to original source...
    14. Li R, Wu X, Zhu Z, Lv Y, Zheng Y, Lu H, Zhou K, Wu D, Zeng W, Dong W, Zhang T. Polyamines protect boar sperm from oxidative stress in vitro. J Anim Sci. 2022 Apr 1;100(4):skac069. Go to original source...
    15. Liang M, Wang Z, Li H, Cai L, Pan J, He H, Wu Q, Tang Y, Ma J, Yang L. L-arginine induces antioxidant response to prevent oxidative stress via stimulation of glutathione synthesis and activation of Nrf2 pathway. Food Chem Toxicol. 2018 May;115:315-28. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Liao P, Li M, Li Y, Tan X, Zhao F, Shu X, Yin Y. Effects of dietary supplementation with cupreous N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) chelate and copper sulfate on growth performance, serum biochemical profile and immune response, tissue mineral levels and fecal excretion of mineral in weaning piglets. Food Agric Immunol. 2017;28(6):1315-29. Go to original source...
    17. Liu XD, Wu X, Yin YL, Liu YQ, Geng MM, Yang HS, Blachier F, Wu GY. Effects of dietary L-arginine or N-carbamylglutamate supplementation during late gestation of sows on the miR-15b/16, miR-221/222, VEGFA and eNOS expression in umbilical vein. Amino Acids. 2012 Jun;42(6):2111-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    18. Madrid J, Martinez S, Lopez C, Orengo J, Lopez MJ, Hernandez F. Effects of low protein diets on growth performance, carcass traits and ammonia emission of barrows and gilts. Anim Prod Sci. 2013;53(2):146-53. Go to original source...
    19. Wei S, Yang Y, Xiao Y, Liu Y, Tian J, Spicer LJ, Feng T. Effects of N-carbamylglutamate on steroidogenesis and relative abundances of mRNA transcripts in pig placental trophoblasts. Anim Reprod Sci. 2020 Oct;221:106569. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    20. Wilkinson DL, Bertolo RF, Brunton JA, Shoveller AK, Pencharz PB, Ball RO. Arginine synthesis is regulated by dietary arginine intake in the enterally fed neonatal piglet. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Sep;287(3):E454-62. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    21. Wu G. Urea synthesis in enterocytes of developing pigs. Biochem J. 1995 Dec 15;312(Pt 3):717-23. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Wu X, Ruan Z, Gao Y, Yin Y, Zhou X, Wang L, Geng M, Hou Y, Wu G. Dietary supplementation with L-arginine or N-carbamylglutamate enhances intestinal growth and heat shock protein-70 expression in weanling pigs fed a corn- and soybean meal-based diet. Amino Acids. 2010 Aug;39(3):831-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Xiao L, Cao W, Liu G, Fang T, Wu X, Jia G, Chen X, Zhao H, Wang J, Wu C, Cai J. Arginine, N-carbamylglutamate, and glutamine exert protective effects against oxidative stress in rat intestine. Anim Nutr. 2016 Sep;2(3):242-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Xing Y, Wu X, Xie C, Xiao D, Zhang B. Meat quality and fatty acid profiles of Chinese Ningxiang pigs following supplementation with N-carbamylglutamate. Animals (Basel). 2020 Jan 6;10(1):88. Go to original source...
    25. Yang HS, Fu DZ, Kong XF, Wang WC, Yang XJ, Nyachoti CM, Yin YL. Dietary supplementation with N-carbamylglutamate increases the expression of intestinal amino acid transporters in weaned Huanjiang mini-pig piglets. J Anim Sci. 2013 Jun;91(6):2740-8. Go to original source...
    26. Ye C, Zeng X, Zhu J, Liu Y, Ye Q, Qiao S, Zeng X. Dietary N-carbamylglutamate supplementation in a reduced protein diet affects carcass traits and the profile of muscle amino acids and fatty acids in finishing pigs. J Agric Food Chem. 2017 Jul 19;65(28):5751-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Yao K, Guan S, Li T, Huang R, Wu G, Ruan Z, Yin Y. Dietary L-arginine supplementation enhances intestinal development and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in weanling piglets. Br J Nutr. 2011 Mar;105(5):703-9. Go to original source...
    28. Zeng XF, Huang ZM, Zhang FR, Mao XB, Zhang SH, Qiao SY. Oral administration of N-carbamylglutamate might improve growth performance and intestinal function of suckling piglets. Livest Sci. 2015 Nov;181:242-8. Go to original source...
    29. Zhang B, Che LQ, Lin Y, Zhuo Y, Fang ZF, Xu SY, Song J, Wang YS, Liu Y, Wang P, Wu D. Effect of dietary N-carbamylglutamate levels on reproductive performance of gilts. Reprod Domest Anim. 2014 Oct;49(5):740-5. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Zhu JL, Zeng XF, Peng Q, Zeng SM, Zhao HY, Shen HX, Qiao SY. Maternal N-carbamylglutamate supplementation during early pregnancy enhances embryonic survival and development through modulation of the endometrial proteome in gilts. J Nutr. 2015 Oct;145(10):2212-20. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    31. Zhu ZP, Gu CS, Hu SD, Li B, Huang LR, Zhang S, Yin JD. Dietary N-carbamylglutamate supplementation enhances myofiber development and intramuscular fat deposition in growing-finishing pigs. Livest Sci. 2020;242:104310. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content