Relationship between lipid peroxidation and fat content in Japanese Black beef Longissimus muscle during storage

We examined the relationship of crude fat content to lipid peroxidation of beef during storage. Longissimus muscle samples (fat content; 6.5-39.4%) from 27 Japanese Black beef steers were stored for 1, 4, 7 and 10 days, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) were determined. TBARS values increased significantly (P<0.05), but LOOH did not change during the 10- day storage period. TBARS values were negatively correlated (P<0.05) with fat content in samples stored for 1, 4, 7 and 10 days. LOOH values, however, were not significantly correlated with fat content except on day 1. Phospholipid contents were correlated (P< 0.01) with LOOH values on each measurement day, but not significantly correlated with TBARS values except on day 1. These findings indicated that: (1) high-fat beef had high preservative properties, and that; (2) TBARS formation was correlated with LOOH derived from phospholipid oxidation in the initial period of storage, and was correlated directly with fat content in a later period.