IMPROVED OXIDATIVE STABILITY OF VEAL LIPIDS AND CHOLESTEROL THROUGH DIETARY VITAMIN-E SUPPLEMENTATION

The influence of dietary vitamin E supplementation on the alpha-tocoph erol content of muscle membranes and on the resultant oxidative stabil ity of veal was investigated. Daily supplementation of veal calves wit h 500 mg vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol acetate for 12 week s after birth increased muscle and membranal alpha-tocopherol concentr ations approximately 6-fold over those of control animals. Oxidative s tability of mitochondrial and microsomal lipids was enhanced by dietar y supplementation as indicated by the results of an oxidative assay us ing hydrogen peroxide-activated metmyoglobin as the catalyst of oxidat ion. Muscle lipid and cholesterol stability was also improved by suppl ementation.