Effect of carnosine, salt and dietary vitamin E on the oxidative stability of chicken meat

The effect of carnosine on lipid and cholesterol oxidation in salted chicken thigh meat and its relationship to dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation was examined. Broilers (Cobb 500) were fed diets with a basal (30 mg kg(-1)) or supplemental (200 mg kg(-1)) level of alpha-tocopheryl acetate for 6 weeks. Thigh meat patties were prepared with carnosine (1.5%), salt (1%) or salt plus carnosine. Salt accelerated lipid and cholesterol oxidation following cooking and refrigerated storage. However, carnosine inhibited lipid and cholesterol oxidation in salted patties. Dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation also reduced the extent of lipid and cholesterol oxidation in salted patties. The combination of carnosine and dietary cr-tocopherol resulted in the greatest lipid and cholesterol stability in salted meat. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.