Influence of dietary vitamin D3 supplementation on the color changes in longissimus lumborum, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus beef muscles

Authors: URSZULA KAROLINA RAFALSKA

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary vitamin D₃ supplementation on changes in color and heme pigment (myoglobin and metmyoglobin) in 4 beef muscles. The muscles came from 48 crossbred bulls that were subjected to supplementation with vitamin D₃ at 4 different doses: 0.0 (control group), 3.5, 7.0, and 10.0 x 10⁶ IU. The 3.5 x 10⁶ IU dose was administered daily for 6 days, before the morning feeding. Four days before slaughter, the supplementation was withdrawn. The dose of 7.0 and 10.0 x 10⁶ IU was administered for 3 days and withdrawn 7 days before slaughter. The data show that supplementation with vitamin D3 had a negative effect on beef meat color (P < 0.05). All analyzed muscles with vitamin D3 had lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values higher than those of the control group (P 6lt; 0.05). Furthermore, redness (a*) decreased and metmyoglobin increased as a function of vitamin D3 dose. These negative effects on meat color occurred with 7.0 and 10.0 x 106 IU doses. The muscle microstructure was imaged and it showed the effects of higher Ca²⁺ concentrations on the deterioration of meat color.

Keywords: Beef, color, vitamin D₃, transmission electron microscope, color components, heme pigments content

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