This second review will focus on a few vitamins, and precursors to vitamins, that are found to have different amounts between grass-fed and grain-fed cattle. There are minor differences in certain vitamins and minerals, and most cannot be said to have statistical significance.

The first compound that is different by a significant margin is beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. Vitamin A has an important role in normal vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell differentiation, maintaining your skins structural integrity, production of white blood cells, and much more (1).

A 2005 study found that grass-fed cattle had over seven times as much beta carotene in the muscle tissues compared to grain-fed cattle. The concentrations were 0.45 μg/g and 0.06 μg/g respectively (2).

The next vitamin that is found to have a significantly greater presence in grass fed cattle is vitamin E. Vitamin E protects cells against free radicals, may prevent against coronary heart disease (3), and has cancer fighting abilities by enhancing immune system function (4).

A 2009 study found that grass-fed cattle had over five times as much natural α-tocopherol (vitamin E) compared to grain-fed beef. The concentrations were 4.07 μg/g and 0.75 μg/g respectively (5).

Another study found that grass finished beef contained an amount of α-tocopherol that would be able to extend the shelf life of retail meat (3 to 4 μg α-tocopherol/gram tissue), by delaying oxidative deterioration (6).  Grass-fed beef may last longer.

The final compound that is different by a significant amount in grass-fed cattle compared to grain-fed cattle is glutathione. Glutathione functions as an antioxidant, protecting cells against oxidation and preventing damage to DNA. Any beef is high in glutathione levels, but grass-fed beef has significantly higher values that grain-fed beef (7).

As you can see, our argument that grass-fed beef is or higher nutritional value than grain-fed beef, has some science to back it up. We like all beef, but emphasize that cattle be treated humanely and naturally, because that will in turn give the animal a better life, and give you a better piece of meat on your plate.

The next and last article in this series will be the findings of a taste test between grass-fed and grain-fed beef. Do cattle raised on a natural diet make meat that is not only better for you, but taste better as well?

References

(1) Scott, L. W., Dunn, J. K., Pownall, H. J., Brauchi, D. J., McMann, M. C., Herd, J. A., . . . Gotto, J. R. (1994, June 13). Effects of beef and chicken consumption on plasma lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic men. Retrieved October 6, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8203993

(2) Descalzo AM, Insani EM, Biolatto A, Sancho AM, Garcia PT, Pensel NA, Josifovich JA. (2005). Influence of pasture or grain-based diets supplemented with vitamin E on antioxidant/oxidative balance of Argentine beef. Journal of Meat Science. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22063278

(3) Lonn EM, Yusuf S. (1997). Is there a role for antioxidant vitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases? An update on epidemiological and clinical trials data. Cancer Journal of Cardiology. Retrieved October 8, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9374952

(4) Weitberg AB, Corvese D. (1997) Effects of vitamin E and beta-carotene on DNA strand breakage induced by tobacco-specific nitrosamines and stimulated human phagocytes. Journal of Experimental Cancer Research. Retrieved October 8, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9148854

(5) De la Fuente J, Diaz MT, Alvarez I, Oliver MA, Font i Furnols M, Sanudo C, Campo MM, Montossi F, Nute GR, Caneque V. (2009) Fatty acid and vitamin E composition of intramuscular fat in cattle reared in different production systems. Meat Science. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20416720

(6) McClure EK, Belk KE, Scanga JA, Smith GC. (2002) Determination of appropriate Vitamin E supplementation levels and administration times to ensure adequate muscle tissue alpha-tocopherol concentration in cattle destined for the Nolan Ryan tender-aged beef program. Animal Sciences Research Report. The Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University.

(7) Descalzo AM, Rossetti L, Grigioni G, Irurueta M, Sancho AM, Carrete J, Pensel NA. (2007)Antioxidant status and odor profile in fresh beef from pasture or grain-fed cattle. Meat Science. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22063662