EFFECT OF REGULAR CONSUMPTION OF CHARCOAL-BROILED BEEF ON SERUM AND LIVER VITAMIN A AND ?-CAROTENE LEVELS IN RATS

Abstract

In this study, the effects of sun-dried and charcoal-broiled beef compounded diets and their vitamin A supplemented versions on vitamin A and ?-carotene levels in rat liver and serum were examined. The rats were in five experimental groups; the sun-dried beef compounded diet only, the charcoal-broiled beef compounded diet only, growers mash plus vitamin A, sun-dried beef compounded diet plus vitamin A supplements, and charcoal-broiled beef compounded diet plus vitamin A supplements. The rats were given 0.8 g feed/g average group body weight in terms of feed for 14 days. The vitamin A supplements were administered to the rats by gavage at a dose of 400 IU units daily for 14 days. After 14 days, relative to rats given sun-dried beef compounded diet only, the rats given charcoal-broiled beef compounded diet only had a statistically significant decrease in ?-carotene and vitamin A levels in the liver, although there was a significant increase in ?-carotene levels in the serum. Administering vitamin A supplements to the compounded diets led to a significant (P < 0.05) increase in ?-carotene in the rat liver and serum compared to the rats given just the corresponding compounded diets only. The results presented here show that regular consumption of broiled beef leads to the production of bioactive metabolites or compounds which reduces vitamin A and ?-carotene levels in the serum and liver