THE EFFECT OF DIETARY VITAMIN-E SUPPLEMENTATION ON DRIP LOSS OF BOVINE LONGISSIMUS-LUMBORUM, PSOAS-MAJOR AND SEMITENDINOSUS MUSCLES

The effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation (2150 IU/head/day) on drip loss and related quality traits of bovine M. longissimus lumborum , M. psoas major and M. semitendinosus was examined. The effect of vit amin E supplementation on drip loss seemed to depend on miracle studie d. Drip loss of longissimus muscles was not significantly influenced, whereas supplemented semitendinosus muscles lost significantly less (p < 0.05) and supplemented psoas major muscles significantly more (p < 0.05) drip than did control counterparts. In both supplemented and con trol samples, sarcolemma failure occurred. No ultimate pH differences were detected between control and supplemented samples regardless of t he muscle considered. In supplemented semitendinosus muscles, the decr ease in dip loss was accompanied by an increase of sarcoplasmic protei n solubility and sarcomere length. It is discussed that both these var iables may be related to the stability of mitochondria and sarcoplasmi c reticulum, as affected by dietary supplementation of vitamin E. Howe ver, this view deserves further investigation and more evidence is nee ded to establish the mechanism by which vitamin E influences drip loss . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.