Vitamin B 12 , E and D Content of Raw and Cooked Beef

ABSTRACT The relationship of carcass grade, primal cuts and cooking to vitamin B 12 , E and D in separable lean beef was studied. The average vitamin B 12 content in 471 samples of raw and cooked beef was 3.17 μg/100g. The vitamin B 12 content of raw and cooked beef was similar; however, on considering the moisture and fat losses during cooking, there was a 27–33% loss of B 12 . The vitamin E content of raw and cooked beef was similar and averaged 133 μg/100g for 464 samples. From 33–44% of the original vitamin E in the meat was lost upon cooking. Raw and cooked beef contained 80–100 ng of vitamin D/100g, with 35–42% of the original vitamin D content being lost upon cooking. The content of vitamins E and D in beef is low and of little nutritional importance; however, beef is an important dietary source of vitamin B 12 . SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS RAW OR COOKED separable lean contained approximately 80–100 ng of vitamin D/100g, with 35–42% of the original vitamin D being lost upon cooking. Raw and cooked separable lean contained approximately 40–800 μg of vitamin E/100g with a mean value of 133 μg for 464 samples. From 33–44% of the original vitamin E was lost during cooking. Fat trim contained 300–350 μg of vitamin E/100g. HPLC showed that α‐tocopherol was the major E vitamer in meat. Vitamin B‐12 content of raw and cooked separable lean ranged from 1 – 10 μg/100g, with a mean value of 3.17 μg B‐12/100g for 471 samples. Fat trim contained approximately 1.5 μg of B‐12/100g. RID was a feasible method for determining B‐12 in meat, with the B‐12 values reported herein being appreciably greater than typical values reported for B‐12 in beef as determined by microbiological assays. Beef consumption makes an important contribution towards meeting an individual's dietary requirement for B‐12.