Distribution of exogenous delta-tocopherol between the membrane lipids and triacylglycerols of a cod muscle-triacylglycerol model system.

Membranes of muscle foods are more susceptible to oxidation than triacylglycerols. Hence, directing a lipid-soluble antioxidant into the membranes may reduce the oxidative deterioration of muscle tissue. The objective of this research was to use a model system of cod muscle and triacylglycerol to study the distribution of exogenous delta-tocopherol between the membranes and triacylglycerol fractions of muscle. When ethanol was the carrier solvent, more tocopherol was incorporated into the membranes than when oil was the carrier. Addition of tocopherol to the muscle before the triacylglycerol was added allowed more antioxidant to be incorporated into the membranes than for the case when the oil was added before the antioxidant. When the triacylglycerol was solid, the amount of tocopherol incorporated into the membranes was higher than if the triacylglycerol was liquid and the amount of tocopherol incorporated into the membranes was less dependent on the order of tocopherol and triacylglycerol addition. There was a competition between the membrane lipids and triacylglycerol for uptake of the delta-tocopherol. In some circumstances, some of the tocopherol did not enter either the membrane lipid or triacylglycerol phase.