INFLUENCE OF ENERGY RESTRICTED DIETS ON ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND ALDEHYDECONTENTS IN THE MUSCLE-TISSUE OF PORK

48 pigs were divided into four groups and fed for different periods di ets at dietary energy levels of either 11.5 MJ metabolizable energy (M E)/kg or 13 MJ ME/kg. The dietary energy restriction resulted in lower alpha-tocopherol contents of the musculus longissimus dorsi (m.l.d.) tissue. The aldehyde contents did not differ significantly between tis sues from various feeding groups. The total aldehyde amounts ranged wi dely between 35 and 790 mu g/kg. Correlation coefficients between thes e amounts and other variables of meat quality such as vitamin E, fat c ontent, phospholipid-polyunsaturated fatty acids or conductivity, show ed different relations in the various feeding groups. The aldehyde lev els in tissues of the energy restricted groups were influenced by indi vidual vitamin E, fat contents and the phospholipid composition. The a ldehyde levels in tissues of animals fed the non restricted diets were independent of these lipid peroxidation stability affecting values. T he correlation to the conductivity of the tissue 24 h post mortem refl ected the dominating effect of physical membranal stress and stability during slaughter on the aldehyde levels.