ABSTRACT
The effects of feeding chemically treated dietary supplements (CTDS) containing sunflower oil and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (TA) on alpha-tocopherol content and fatty acid profile in edible tissues of lambs were estimated. Compared with lambs fed control diet (CD), lambs fed CD plus 250 IU of either TA or CTDS increased serum alpha-tocopherol. The CTDS-fed lambs further increased serum alpha-tocopherol by 29% over those fed CD plus 250 IU of TA. Lambs supplemented with TA or CTDS increased alpha-tocopherol in muscle and adipose tissues as compared with lambs fed CD. The CTDS-fed lambs had higher levels of alpha-tocopherol in gluteus medius (7.55 vs 6.05 mug/g), psoas major (7.43 vs 6.02 mug/g), and subcutaneous fat (12.6 vs 9.98 mug/g) compared with the TA-fed lambs. Feeding lambs CTDS also substantially increased levels of linoleic acid in the adipose tissues while decreasing the content of palmitic and oleic acids.
Subject(s)
Linoleic Acid/metabolism , Meat/analysis , Plant Oils/administration & dosage , Sheep , alpha-Tocopherol/analogs & derivatives , alpha-Tocopherol/metabolism , Adipose Tissue/chemistry , Animals , Diet , Dietary Supplements , Fatty Acids/analysis , Linoleic Acid/analysis , Muscle, Skeletal/chemistry , Plant Oils/pharmacokinetics , Sunflower Oil , Tocopherols , alpha-Tocopherol/administration & dosage , alpha-Tocopherol/analysis , alpha-Tocopherol/blood , alpha-Tocopherol/pharmacokineticsABSTRACT
Chemically treated dietary supplements (CTDS) were prepared with defatted soy flour, sunflower oil, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (TA), and 2,3-butanedione (a generally recognized as safe chemical), and the effects on alpha-tocopherol (VE) concentration and fatty acid profile in ewe's milk were estimated. Ewes fed control diet (CD) had the lowest levels of milk VE (0.66 microg/mL) and serum VE (1.59 microg/mL). Feeding ewes the CD plus 500 IU of TA increased milk and serum VE by 30 and 70%, respectively, compared to ewes fed the CD. The CTDS-fed ewes showed further increased milk and serum VE levels by 40 and 32%, respectively, over those in ewes fed the CD plus 500 IU of TA. Feeding ewes CTDS did not affect milk fat content (3.13%) but altered the fatty acid composition by decreasing the levels of hypercholesteremic fatty acids, while increasing the content of linoleic acid (8.5%). Inclusion of CTDS in ruminant diets might produce nutritionally enhanced milk products.
