Nutritional Quality of Pork Produced by Mangalitsa Breed

Abstract

Pork lipids are an important source of conjugated linoleic acid, which in light of recent studies can provide protection against some forms of cancer and heart disease because of its antioxidant properties. Pork is an excellent source of vitamins and trace elements, ensuring between 10% (pantothenic acid) and 65% (for thiamine - vitamin B1) of daily recommended dose. It is also an excellent source of pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, biotin, niacin - soluble vitamins necessary for healthy metabolism. Minerals contained in pork provides between 9% (for iron) and 36% (for zinc) of the recommended daily dose, but also of phosphorus and magnesium. Mangalitsa fat content is 12-16% less saturated fatty acids and 8-10% more unsaturated fatty acids (like n-3 and n-6) than the modern pig breeds. Significant differences were recorded among ratio content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in Red and Blonde Mangalitsa (35.88% and 38.42% respectively). In comparation with other modern breeds both Mangalitsa had a higher ratio of unsaturated fatty acids. The amount of fats in meat and offal from Mangalitsa ranging from 8 g/100 g in pork leg to 80g/100g in lard, while cholesterol is found from 50 mg/100g to 130 mg/100g in the same products.

Keywords

• fatty acids
• lipids
• pork
• mangalitsa