The proximate composition and physical traits of longissimus
lumborum muscle were not affected by OP (Table 5). On the contrary,
the fatty acid profiles, dietary indexes and oxidative status of meat
underwent several modifications in relation to the OP used
(Table 6). In detail, dietary treatment with OP resulted in a significant
(Pb0.05) increase of MUFA, to the detriment of PUFA (Pb0.05), in
meat. The proportion of SFA was reduced, reaching statistical significance
(Pb0.05) only for the meat of the OPC-treated rabbits. This
group had the greatest proportion of MUFA (chiefly oleic acid) but
the lowest proportion of PUFA (especially linoleic acid). As a consequence,
the ratio between saturated and unsaturated FAs was also
lower.
The changes in meat fatty acids due to OP were responsible for the
changes in the dietary quality indexes. Accordingly, the peroxidability
index was lower (Pb0.05) in all meat samples that were derived from
OP-treated rabbits, whereas the atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes
were significantly (Pb0.05) reduced only in OPC.
The oxidative stability of the meat lipid was also affected by OP
supplementation, and the magnitude was related to the OP used.
Meat from the OPB group had the greatest (Pb0.05) TBARS level
and was therefore the most susceptible to lipid peroxidation with respect
to the other groups.