Cholesterol oxidation in meat from chickens fed alpha-tocopherol- and beta-carotene-supplemented diets with different unsaturation grades

The production of B-ring and side-chain oxysterols was evaluated in meat from chickens fed diets differing by the kind of oil or fat added. The effect of supplementary levels of natural antioxidants, as alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene, on the meat cholesterol oxidative stability was also studied. Lard, sunflower and olive oil were used as dietary fat. Raw and cooked meats were analyzed for oxysterols, and cholesterol was also quantified. Oxysterol analyses were carried out by combining the use of solid-phase extraction, thin-layer chromatography, capillary gas chromatography, and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Oxysterols were detected within the 0.1-0.5 microg/g range in raw meat. Cooking increased the oxysterol content of the meat, and levels as high as 5 microg/g muscle tissue were observed. B-Ring oxysterols were mainly produced: the alpha- and the beta-epoxycholesterols, the 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxycholesterols, and the 7-ketocholesterol. The results showed that the meat from the chickens fed the olive oil-based diet containing alpha-tocopherol at 200 mg/kg of diet presented the best cholesterol oxidative stability. A positive effect could not be found for dietary beta-carotene administered at levels of 15 and 50 mg/kg of diet. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the tissue cholesterol content was observed with the olive and the sunflower oil-based diets.