Information on the combined effect of dietary vitamin C and Se on the composition and oxidative stability
of meat of broilers is not available in the literature. In the present experiment, male broiler chickens were
fed a maize–wheat–soya diet supplemented with vitamin C at 280 and 560 mg/kg of diet, and Se (sodium
selenite or selenised yeast; Se) at 0.3 mg/kg for 5 weeks. After slaughter, samples of thigh meat were analysed.
The supplementation of diets with vitamin C or Se increased the protein concentration of the meat
at the expense of fat. Vitamin C supplementation increased the vitamin C content of the meat in a dosedependent
manner and decreased the vitamin A concentration in the meat of broilers fed diets with
sodium selenite or without a Se supplement. In the meat of the broilers that were fed these diets, the vitamin
C decreased the lipid oxidation in meat that was stored for 5 days. No sparing effect of vitamin C was
apparent on the amount of vitamin E in the meat. Selenised yeast was more effective in the enrichment of
meat with Se than was selenite. Both Se sources increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and the
oxidative stability of the meat.