Comparison of glutathione peroxidase activity, and of total and soluble selenium content in two muscles from chicken, turkey, duck, ostrich and lamb

Glutathione peroxidase activity (GSHPx), total and soluble selenium in two muscles from five species were compared (chicken, duck, turkey, ostrich and lamb). The highest GSHPx activity, found in duck muscles (4.8 U/g; 3.0 U/g), was significantly higher than that in lamb (1.8 U/g; 1.4 U/g), turkey (1.2 U/g; 0.6 U/g), chicken (1.0 U/g; 0.7 U/g), and ostrich muscles (0.9 U/g; 0.8 U/g). GSHPx activities were significantly higher in the oxidative muscles from chicken (thigh), duck (breast), turkey (thigh) and lamb (PM) than those in the corresponding glycolytic muscles (breast, thigh, breast and LD, respectively). Also the total selenium content was higher in duck muscles (149 ng/g; 139 ng/g), than in lamb (171 ng/g /PM, M. psoas major/ and 86 ng/g /LD, M. longissimus dorsi/), chicken (117 ng/g; 109 ng/g), ostrich (106 ng/g; 103 ng/g) and turkey muscles (110 ng/g; 70 ng/g). The selenium content was significantly higher in the oxidative muscles of lamb and turkey than in the corresponding glycolytic muscles. The percentage of soluble selenium in lamb PM was lower (32%) than that in all other muscles (range 48–76%). The study thus showed considerable variation, among species, of glutathione peroxidase activity, total and soluble selenium content in muscle, which may be important for the oxidative stability and nutritional value of different meat products.