The following definite integral evaluates to zero:
Int[1/(a + Cos[x]), {x, 0, 2 Pi}]
However, the correct evaluation is, in general, nonzero. If a is replaced with an explicit number, the evaluation proceeds correctly. For instance,
Int[1/(2 + Cos[x]), {x, 0, 2 Pi}]
gives the correct value: 2 Pi/Sqrt[3].