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 vitamin E supplementation on drip loss seemed to depend on miracle studied. 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 control samples, sarcolemma failure occurred. No ultimate pH differences were detected between control and supplemented samples regardless of the muscle considered. In supplemented semitendinosus muscles, the decrease in dip loss was accompanied by an increase of sarcoplasmic protein solubility and sarcomere length. It is discussed that both these variables may be related to the stability of mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum, as affected by dietary supplementation of vitamin E. However, this view deserves further investigation and more evidence is needed to establish the mechanism by which vitamin E influences drip loss. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.