An hypothesis for the mechanism of the heme catalyzed lipid oxidation in animal tissues

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Abstract
The catalytic activity of the heme compounds on lipid oxidation in muscle tissues has been reviewed. Evidence from experiments found in the literature, and unpublished studies in this laboratory on meats and fishery products, lead to the conclusion that the ferric heme compounds initiate lipid oxidation, while the ferrous heme compounds are inactive in the absence of preformed peroxides. The latter are decomposed by both types of heme compounds, but by a different mechanism.A comprehensive mechanism of the different catalytic activities of the various heme compounds has been presented, based on both experimental evidence and theoretical considerations.