Estimating the daily intake of essential and nonessential elements from lamb m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum consumed by the population in Missouri (United States)

This paper estimated the daily intake of essential and nonessential elements from lamb muscle longissimus thoracis et lumborum (m. LTL) available to the population in Missouri. Missouri grain-finished (n = 36), Missouri grass-finished (n = 40) and imported New Zealand grass-finished (n = 40) lamb m. LTL were purchased and assayed for their element composition. Total mercury in samples was quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry and other elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Analysis of certified reference materials (DORM-2 and TORT-2) gave recovery rates ranging from 86 to 108% and 85 to 104%, respectively. The abundance of essential elements in Missouri grain-finished and Missouri grass-finished lamb m. LTL followed the order: Potassium > phosphorus > sodium > magnesium > calcium > zinc > iron. The order in the imported New Zealand grass-finished group was: Potassium > phosphorus > sodium > calcium > magnesium > zinc > iron. Since many variables lacked normality, non-parametric (Kruskal-Wallis) comparison test was performed and the results suggested no significant difference (P > 0.05) in element composition among the lamb m. LTL groups. The estimated daily intake of 14 elements from consumption of 100 g lamb m. LTL posed no hazard to consumers.