ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL CONTENTS AND LIPID OXIDATION IN PORK MUSCLE AND ADIPOSE-TISSUE DURING STORAGE

In an on-farm study 1220 pigs were fed diets containing either a basal (40 mg/kg of feed) or supplemented (200 mg/kg of feed) level of alpha-DL-tocopheryl acetate. The changes in alpha-tocopherol levels and lipid oxidation in longissimus dorsi muscle (mid) and adipose (backfat) tissue were studied after slaughtering during 14 days of storage of the chops at 4 degrees C. The a-tocopherol levels were higher in the muscle and adipose tissue from the supplemented group. In muscle tissue from the basal feeding group, there was a marked rise in the amounts of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by 7 days storage. In muscle from the supplemented group the development of the TBARS remained low during storage. The alpha-tocopherol levels of muscle tissue did not change during storage. In adipose tissue the alpha-tocopherol concentration decreased and lipid oxidation occurred.