Nutr Res Pract.  2007 Mar;1(1):70-73.

Nutritional characteristics of horsemeat in comparison with those of beef and pork

• Lee CE
• Seong PN
• Oh WY
• Ko MS
• Kim KI
• Jeong JH

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional characteristics of horsemeat and bone meal in comparison with those of beef and pork presented by Dietary Reference Intakes For Koreans. Longissimus muscle and large metacarpal bone samples were collected from 20 fattened Jeju horses. Muscle samples were subjected to proximate analysis, assays for fatty acid profile and minerals, and bone samples to mineral assays. Horsemeat had similar levels of protein (21.1 vs 21.0 or 21.1%) and lower levels of fat (6.0 vs 14.1 or 16.1%) compared with beef or pork, respectively. Horsemeat had much higher levels of palmitoleic (8.2 vs 4.4 or 3.3%) and alpha-linolenic (1.4 vs 0.1 or 0.6%) acids than beef or pork, respectively. Linoleic acid was much higher in horsemeat (11.1%) and pork (10.1%) than in beef (1.6%). PUFA:SFA and n-6:n-3 ratios in horsemeat were 0.29 and 10.2, respectively. There were no big differences in mineral contents between horsemeat, beef and pork. For daily recommended mineral intakes of male adults (Dietary Reference Intakes For Koreans), phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc and copper can be provided up to 24, 2.5, 6.7, 21, 26 and 40%, respectively, by 100 g raw horsemeat, but calcium and manganese levels are negligible. Horse cannon bone had much higher mineral contents especially in calcium (10,193 mg/100 g), phosphorus (5,874 mg/100 g) and copper (0.79 mg/100 g). Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and retinol contents were 0.20, 0.21, 1.65 mg/100 g and 30 microgram/100 g, respectively. But ascorbic acid and beta-carotene were not detected. Our data demonstrated that higher levels of palmitoleic and alpha-linolenic acid in horsemeat than in beef and pork may be beneficial for human health. Horsemeat and bone meal are a good source of some minerals and vitamins.

Keyword

Horsemeat; beef; pork; bone; fatty acid; mineral

MeSH Terms

Adult
alpha-Linolenic Acid
Ascorbic Acid
beta Carotene
Calcium
Copper
Horses
Humans
Iron
Linoleic Acid
Male
Manganese
Meals
Minerals
Niacin
Phosphorus
Potassium
Recommended Dietary Allowances
Riboflavin
Sodium
Vitamin A
Vitamins
Zinc
Ascorbic Acid
Calcium
Copper
Iron
Linoleic Acid
Manganese
Minerals
Niacin
Phosphorus
Potassium
Riboflavin
Sodium
Vitamin A
Vitamins
Zinc
alpha-Linolenic Acid
beta Carotene

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