Consumption of eggs with meals increases the susceptibility of human plasma and low-density lipoprotein to lipid peroxidation.
Consumption of eggs for a long period was shown to result in hypercholesterolemia and is generally restricted for this reason. In the present study we analyzed the effect of eggs consumption for 3 weeks on lipoprotein atherogenicity. Consumption of 2 eggs per day with the meals, for 3 weeks resulted in a minor elevation in plasma glucose and urea concentrations. Plasma cholesterol concentration increased by 11% (p < 0.05) as a result of increased plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Plasma triglycerides decreased by 13% (p < 0.01), but there were no significant alterations in plasma apolipoproteins A-I or B-100 concentrations. Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol decreased by 11% (p < 0.05). There was a 13% reduction, though not significant, in the cholesterol efflux from J-774 A.1 macrophages by HDL that was derived after eggs consumption in comparison to HDL that was obtained at baseline. The susceptibility of plasma [using 100 mM of 2,2' azobis 2-amidinopropane (AAPH)] as well as that of LDL (using 10 microM of copper ions) to lipid peroxidation was increased by 42% and 34%, respectively, as measured by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay (p < 0.01). Kinetic analysis of LDL oxidation by copper ions revealed a 37% reduction in the lag time required for the initiation of LDL oxidation after 3 weeks of eggs consumption. The total plasma fatty acids concentration increased from 2.2 +/- 0.5 to 3.2 +/- 0.6 mg/ml. The plasma antioxidants, vitamin E and carotenoids were not significantly affected by eggs consumption. We conclude that eggs consumption, in addition to its hypercholesterolemic effect, increases plasma and LDL oxidizability, a phenomenon which was shown to enhance the progression of atherosclerosis. The atherogenic properties may contribute to the accelerated atherosclerosis prevalent in populations with high cholesterol intake.
Levy
Y
Y
Lipid Research Laboratory, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Maor
I
I
Presser
D
D
Aviram
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D004531:Eggs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol