SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN NUTRITION

Optimal nutrition of livestock and profitable animal production are not possible without approved additives of antioxidants established in feedstuffs regulation for a long time. A deficiency of vitamin E and selenium furthermore lead to suboptimal performances and also to diseases. A frequently supplementation of vegetable oil in pig and poultry feed with high contents of linoleic and linolenic acid will lead to high accumulation of these fatty acids in body fat. Consequently the oxidation stability decreases which can be improved decisively by tocopherols. Supplementation of vitamin E and selenium with a maximum level of 500 mug/kg feed combined with an accumulation in animal foodstuffs is important to human requirements of these essential agents. Compared to animal nutrition the recommendations for human requirements (DGE) of both antioxidants are to low. 12 mg tocopherol and 20 to 100 mug selenium are deficient to react on different processes of oxidation in human organism. A considerably improved vitamin E and selenium supply can not be covered by normal food intake. Therefore the use of concentrates is more efficient like in animal nutrition. This type of prophylaxe should be more applicated in health providence. Not only a high life expectancy should be achieved but also a good health condition within this life time.