P.A. Morrissey

Vitamin E and meat quality

Lipid oxidation is a major cause of deterioration in the quality of muscle foods. Oxidation leads to the production of off-flavours and odours, reduction of polyunsatu- rated fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins and pigments, lower consumer acceptability, and the production of compounds such as peroxides and aldehydes which may be toxic. Lipid oxidation is a free-radical-mediated process which occurs in raw muscle, and especially in cooked muscle. The process is believed to be initiated at the membrane level owing to the oxidation of the highly unsaturated membrane lipids. Modern trends towards convenience foods have resulted in an increase in the production of precooked and restructured meat products which are very susceptible to lipid oxidation. In addition, dietary recommendations favouring the consumption of less saturated fat have led to an increase in demand for foods containing higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids. However, such foods are very susceptible to peroxidation, and present the food technologist with new challenges.

Influence of dietary fat and α-tocopherol supplementation on lipid oxidation in pork.

Sixty-four pigs, approximately 3 weeks old, were fed diets containing 3% beef tallow or 3% soya oil with either a basal (10-50 mg/kg diet) or supplemented (200 mg/kg diet) level of α-tocopheral acetate. In pigs fed the soya oil diet the neutral and polar lipid fractions of muscle tissue and the total lipid fraction of adipose tissue had significantly (P < 0·05) higher C18:2/C18:1 ratios when compared to pigs fed the tallow diet. Muscle from pigs fed the soya oil diet was significantly more susceptible (P < 0·05) to lipid oxidation than muscle from pigs fed the tallow diet. In pigs receiving the α-tocopherol supplemented diet, α-tocopherol levels were approximately 3·3, 2·8 and 2-times higher in plasma, muscle and adipose tissue, respectively, when compared to pigs fed the basal level of α-tocopherol acetate. α-Tocopherol supplementation significantly increased (P < 0·05) the oxidative stability of muscle from pigs fed both the tallow and soya oil diets.

Consumption of thermally-oxidized sunflower oil by chicks reduces α-tocopherol status and increases susceptibility of tissues to lipid oxidation

The effect of heated sunflower oil consumption on alpha-tocopherol status, fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of chicken tissues was investigated. Chicks were fed on diets containing (g/kg): fresh sunflower oil (FSO) 40, heated sunflower oil (HSO) 40 or heated sunflower oil (40) supplemented with alpha-tocopheryl acetate (HSE) to a similar alpha-tocopherol concentration as the FSO diet. Concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in tissues of chicks fed on HSO and HSE were significantly lower than those of chicks fed on FSO. Significant correlations were observed between plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration and the alpha-tocopherol concentrations of other tissues (r > or = 0.67, P < 0.005) and between log plasma alpha-tocopherol and plasma thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS) concentrations (r -0.851, P < 0.001). The concentrations of TBARS in tissues of chicks fed on the various diets were generally very similar before stimulation of peroxidation with Fe-ascorbate. Susceptibility of tissues to Fe-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation was increased by feeding HSO. Supplementation with alpha-tocopheryl acetate reduced susceptibility to lipid oxidation to varying degrees, depending on the tissue. The results suggest that chronic ingestion of oxidized lipids may compromise free-radical-scavenging activity in vivo by depleting alpha-tocopherol in the gastrointestinal tract, or possibly in plasma and other tissues.

Metmyoglobin and inorganic metals as pro-oxidants in raw and cooked muscle systems

The pro-oxidant activities of metmyoglobin (Mb) and metal ions on the induction of lipid oxidation in raw and heated water-washed muscle systems from fish, turkey, chicken, pork, beef and lamb and during storage of these systems at 4°C, were investigated. Lipid oxidation was invariably faster in heated than in raw systems. In raw Mb-catalyzed systems, oxidation was slow over a 5-day period, except in fish, where significant (P < 0·05) increases in TBA values occurred; in contrast, significant (P < 0·05) increases in TBA values occurred in cooked fish, turkey, chicken and pork after 3 days of storage. Cooked beef and lamb, however, showed significant lipid oxidation only after 5 days of storage. Fe(2+) was found to be highly catalytic in cooked muscle. Cu(2+) and Co(2+) were less effective catalysts than Fe(2+); the overall pro-oxidant activity was in the order Fe(2+) > Cu(2+) > Co(2+) > Mb, and the susceptibility to lipid oxidation of the muscle systems was in the order: fish > turkey > chicken > pork > beef > lamb, probably reflecting the degree of unsaturation of the constituent triglyceride fractions.

Effect of dietary vitamin E on the stability of raw and cooked pork

Experiments were designed to investigate the effects of dietary α-tocopherol supplementation for 2 weeks prior to slaughter on plasma and muscle α-tocopherol levels and on the oxidative stability of raw and cooked pig muscle during refrigerated storage at 4°C. Plasma and muscle α-tocopherol levels of the pigs on the α-tocopherol supplemented diet (200 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg feed) were ∼2·5-fold higher than those of the pigs on the control diet (30 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg feed). Dietary supplementation with α-tocopherol significantly (p < 0·01) improved the oxidative stability of both raw and cooked muscle after storage at 4°C for up to 8 days. α-Tocopherol stabilized the membrane-bound lipids against metmyoglobin/H(2)O(2)-initiated oxidation and also significantly (p < 0·05) improved the oxidative stability of rendered fat.

Influence of dietary fat and vitamin E supplementation on α-tocopherol levels and fatty acid profiles in chicken muscle membranal fractions and on susceptibility to lipid peroxidation

Broiler chickens were fed a basal feed supplemented with 10% tallow or olive oil and varying levels of vitamin E (20 and 200 mg vitamin E/kg feed). The concentration of α-tocopherol in the membranes of breast and thigh muscles was significantly influenced by the α-tocopherol level in the feed (p < 0.001). Deposition of vitamin E was not influenced by the type of oil in the feed, except in the mitochondrial fraction of breast where the vitamin E concentration was higher in those fed olive oil than in those fed tallow (p < 0.05). Dietary oil influenced the fatty acid composition of the muscle membranal fractions (p < 0.001). The oxidative stability of the membranal fractions tended to increase with increasing concentrations of α-tocopherol in the membranal fractions. In conclusion, the supplementation of vitamin E appeared to enhance the stability of muscle to oxidation. Thus, incorporation of α-tocopherol into the membranes via dietary manipulation helped in stabilizing the membrane-bound lipids.

Metal ion complexation by products of the Maillard reaction

Abstract Potentiometric proton-liberation experiments were used to study the interaction between metal ions and a crude Maillard reaction product (MRP) of glucose-glutamate or a pure product of the Maillard reaction, the Amadori compound fructosyl glycine. The present study is the first to report values for stability constants for complex formation involving products of the Maillard reaction and metal ions. Proton displacement suggested binding of Zn2+, Cu2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ by the glucose-glutamate MRP. The strength of binding occurred in the order Mg2+ > Cu2+ = Ca2+ > Zn2+. The order of binding affinity differs from that expected for a mononuclear binary system as predicted by the Irving-Williams series which might suggest the presence of two or more distinct ligands in the MRP. Proton displacement suggested the formation of complexes of fructosyl glycine with zinc but not with calcium. The pKa value of fructosyl glycine was notably higher than that of glycine (3.25 vs 2.23, respectively), whereas the pKb value was reduced (8.93 vs 9.73, respectively). Such changes in protonation may help to explain the lower affinities for zinc exhibited by fructosyl glycine compared with glycine (glycine: log K1, 5.40; log K2,4.47; log K3, 2.73. Fructosyl glycine: log K1, 4.27, log K2, 3.83; log K3, 1.92). The results of the present study may explain some of the effects of Maillard reaction products on mineral homoeostasis in vivo. However, it is likely that the biokinetics and metabolism of such compounds also play a major role in mediating observed effects.

COMPARISON OF EFFECTS OF DIETARY OLIVE OIL, TALLOW AND VITAMIN E ON THE QUALITY OF BROILER MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS

1. The effect of dietary fat and vitamin E supplementation on quality attributes (drip loss, oxidative stability, sensory quality) in chicken meat and meat products was investigated. Broiler chicks were fed on diets containing tallow (60 g/kg) or olive oil (60 g/kg) at a basal (30 mg/kg diet) or supplemental (200 mg/kg diet) concentration of alpha-tocopheryl acetate for 8 weeks. The alpha-tocopherol content and fatty acid composition of breast and thigh meat was determined. Drip loss was determined in breast fillets. Lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances/TBARS) and sensory quality (warmed-over flavour development/WOF) were assessed in minced thigh meat during storage. 2. Dietary olive oil increased the ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acids (MUFA/SFA) in the diets. In breast and thigh, this resulted in approximately a two-fold increase in the MUFA/SFA ratio. Supplemental alpha-tocopherol increased the alpha-tocopherol content of muscles. 3. Dietary fat not influence drip loss in thawed breast fillets during refrigerated storage, but supplemental alpha-tocopherol reduced drip loss. 4. TBARS and WOF development in minced thigh meat patties were also reduced by supplemental alpha-tocopherol following frozen storage, or cooking and refrigerated storage. Storage stability was not adversely affected by dietary fat. 5. Overall, the results showed that increasing the monounsaturated profile of chicken meat lipids did not adversely affect quality characteristics. Dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation was a more important factor in the determination of broiler meat quality.

Influence of heated vegetable oils and α‐tocopheryl acetate supplementation on α‐tocopherol, fatty acids and lipid peroxidation in chicken muscle

Abstract 1. Chicks were fed on diets containing fresh, heated or α‐tocopheryl acetate‐supplemented heated vegetable oils. The effects on α‐tocopherol status, and on the fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of thigh and breast muscle were determined. 2. Plasma α‐tocopherol was significantly correlated with α‐tocopherol concentrations in thigh and breast muscle. 3. The fatty acid profiles of muscle lipids reflected dietary fatty acid composition. 4. The consumption of heated sunflower and linseed oils reduced α‐tocopherol status, altered fatty acid composition of muscle lipids and increased susceptibility of muscle to lipid oxidation. 5. Supplementation of diets containing heated oils with α‐tocopheryl acetate resulted in some alleviation of these effects. 6. The results indicate that caution should be exercised in the use of thermally oxidised oils in poultry diets if undesirable changes in composition and oxidative stability of carcase lipids are to be avoided.

Tissue content of alpha-tocopherol and oxidative stability of broilers receiving dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplement for various periods pre-slaughter.

1. The effects of dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate on the alpha-tocopherol status of chicken plasma and tissues were investigated. The rate of iron-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation was also studied. 2. One hundred and forty four chicks were divided into 6 groups: one control group was fed a basal diet of 30 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg food for the duration of the trial. A supplemental diet of 200 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate was fed to each of the other 5 groups for 1,2,3,4 or 5 weeks prior to slaughter. 3. Supplementation resulted in an increase in alpha-tocopherol in plasma and all tissues examined. Saturation levels of alpha-tocopherol were observed in plasma after 1 week of feeding and in tissues within 3 to 4 weeks of feeding. 4. Supplementation with alpha-tocopheryl acetate for up to 4 weeks pre-slaughter resulted in significant reductions in susceptibility to induced lipid peroxidation. 5. Overall, the results show that feeding 200 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg food to chicks for at least 4 weeks prior to slaughter is necessary to optimise muscle content and stability against lipid peroxidation.