The potential for increasing the concentrations of micronutrients relevant to human nutrition in meat, milk and eggs

JA Rooke, JF Flockhart, NHC Sparks

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A possible outcome of policies designed to reduce obesity in the human population and to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions may be a decrease in human consumption of livestock products. However, livestock products currently make substantial contributions to intakes of specific micronutrients. Therefore, the present review examines the potential for increasing micro-nutrient concentrations of milk, muscle meats and eggs by nutritional and genetic means. Of the trace elements, copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations were largely resistant to manipulation by dietary means, but iodine (I) and selenium (Se) could be readily manipulated. Similarly, while α-tocopherol concentrations were readily manipulated, responses to dietary supplementation with retinol, folate and cobalamin were lower and riboflavin was resistant to dietary manipulation. There were differences between products in the ease with which composition could be manipulated: egg concentrations were most responsive followed by milk and muscle meats. However, livestock products with increased micro-nutrients concentrations can supply a substantial proportion of the daily reference nutrient intake.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)603 - 614
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Agricultural Science
Volume148
Issue number5
Early online date2010
DOIs
Publication statusPrint publication - Oct 2010

Bibliographical note

60170011

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