SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN NUTRITION

Optimal nutrition of livestock and profitable animal production are no t possible without approved additives of antioxidants established in f eedstuffs regulation for a long time. A deficiency of vitamin E and se lenium furthermore lead to suboptimal performances and also to disease s. A frequently supplementation of vegetable oil in pig and poultry fe ed with high contents of linoleic and linolenic acid will lead to high accumulation of these fatty acids in body fat. Consequently the oxida tion stability decreases which can be improved decisively by tocophero ls. Supplementation of vitamin E and selenium with a maximum level of 500 mug/kg feed combined with an accumulation in animal foodstuffs is important to human requirements of these essential agents. Compared to animal nutrition the recommendations for human requirements (DGE) of both antioxidants are to low. 12 mg tocopherol and 20 to 100 mug selen ium are deficient to react on different processes of oxidation in huma n organism. A considerably improved vitamin E and selenium supply can not be covered by normal food intake. Therefore the use of concentrate s is more efficient like in animal nutrition. This type of prophylaxe should be more applicated in health providence. Not only a high life e xpectancy should be achieved but also a good health condition within t his life time.