Effect of dietary n-3 and n-6 PUFA on lipid composition of different tissues of German Holstein bulls and the fate of bioactive fatty acids during processing

J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Jul 28;58(14):8314-21. doi: 10.1021/jf101145y.

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of dietary linolenic acid (ALA) versus linoleic acid (LA) on meat quality, fatty acid composition, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity in longissimus muscle (MLD) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of German Holstein bulls and the transfer of beneficial n-3 fatty acids into German corned beef sausages (GCB). Feeding LA- and ALA-enriched diets increased essential fatty acids in MLD and SAT. The ALA-supplemented diet decreased significantly the SCD activity in MLD and SAT, resulting in a reduced relative concentration of oleic acid in muscle. The relative proportion of CLAcis-9,trans-11 analyzed by HPLC was not different between groups in either tissue. GCB were produced by using the lean meat of bulls. Beef products of bulls fed the ALA-supplemented diet were rich in ALA and n-3 LC PUFA. Most importantly, there was no loss of n-3 fatty acids during processing under production conditions. Conclusively, the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio was beneficially low.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis*
  • Animals
  • Cattle / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / metabolism*
  • Food Handling
  • Linoleic Acid / metabolism
  • Male
  • Meat Products / analysis*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid
  • Linoleic Acid