SummaryThe effect of addition ofvitamin E (a-tocopherol) to pig diets on muscle metabolism of phosphorus Compounds, ATPase activity and meat quality was studied. Experimental pigs were fed with a diet supplemented with vitamin E (200 mg a-tocopherol/kg diet) for 60 days before slaughtered (110 kg live weight). Longissimus muscle (LD) Vitamin E level was more than twice higher (P<0.01) in pigs supplemented with vitamin E Changes of muscle phosphorus Compounds like sugar phosphate (SP), inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphoereatine (PCr), and adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) assessed by 3, P NMR spectroscopy (15 min post mortem) differed between control pigs and vitamin E administered pigs. Significantly lower (PO.05) values of SP and significantly higher values of PCr were found in pigs administered with vitamin E. Efficiency of muscle energetic metabolism measured as index PCr/Pi was higher in pigs supplemented with vitamin E. ATPase activity of longissimus muscle (LD) was not influenced by vitamin E in diet. Drip loss of LD measured 24 h post mortem and conduetivity of semimembranosus (SM) and LD measured 3 h post mortem (PO.05) improved by administration with vitamin E. Differences between pH of LD and SM muscles measured 45 min post mortem were not significantly influenced. Dietary vitamin E administered for 60 days to finishing pigs may have beneficial effects on muscle energetic metabolism, electrical conduetivity, and drip loss.

Abstract. The effect of feeding high levels of α-tocopherol and organic selenium (Se) to pigs on colour stability and on the susceptibility to oxidative deterioration was investigated. Treatments consisted of supplementation of vitamin E (200 mg/kg diet), organic Se (0.3 mg/kg diet) and both vitamin E and organic Se for the last 60 days to finishing pigs before slaughtering. Longissimus dorsi (LD) and psoas major (PM) muscles were examined after 2 and 7 days of storage on colour stability and on lipid peroxidation (measured as malondialdehyde equivalents). Rate of oxidation by Stimulation with Fe2+/ascorbate was also estimated in LD samples obtained post mortem. In PM 7 days post mortem we found differences between control and groups of pigs supplemented with vitamin E and Se on reflectance, but significant differences (P < 0.05) were found only in the vitamin E + Se group. Positive effects (P < 0.05) of vitamin E and Se on colour in psoas major muscle refrigerated for 7 days are supported with significant (P < 0.05) lower levels of TBARS values in pigs supplemented with vitamin E and organic Se as well. Supplementation with organic Se does not affect the oxidative stability of muscle tissue (longissimus dorsi) when the rate of iron-induced lipid oxidation was examined. Dietary Se had limited potential for enhancing the quality of pork carcasses (psoas major) and accentuating the effect of vitamin E on the oxidative stability of longissimus dorsi muscle was not found.

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