The Claim
Grass-finished beef contains 4.2-fold higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and 2.9-fold higher concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) compared to grain-finished beef, due to higher concentrations of these fat-soluble vitamins in pasture forages.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Grass-finished beef has 4.2 times more vitamin E and 2.9 times more vitamin A than grain-finished beef, because the grasses that cattle eat contain higher levels of these vitamins.
See the scientific wording
Grass-finished beef contains 4.2-fold higher alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and 2.9-fold higher retinol (vitamin A) than grain-finished beef, reflecting higher concentrations of these fat-soluble vitamins in pasture forages.
Cows that eat grass absorb high levels of vitamin E and vitamin A precursors directly from the plants. These vitamins and other plant compounds travel through the digestive system, where microbes in the stomach break them down and the liver modifies them into forms that can be stored in muscle tissue. The muscle ends up with much more of these vitamins because the grass contains far more of them than grain does, and the cow’s body does not break them down as quickly when they come from plants.
What the research says
1 studyThe study found that beef from cows that ate grass has over four times more vitamin E and nearly three times more vitamin A than beef from cows that ate grain, just like the claim says — because the grass has more of these vitamins.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.