A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of the effects of two eggs per day in moderately hypercholesterolemic and combined hyperlipidemic subjects taught the NCEP step I diet.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effect of egg feeding in 161 hypercholesterolemic (HC) or combined hyperlipidemic (CHL) free-living subjects taught the NCEP Step I Diet.


METHODS
Subjects had LDL-C between 3.36 and 4.91 mmol/L (130 and 190 mg/dL). HC subjects had triglyceride concentrations < 75th %-ile, CHL > or = 75th %-ile. Six weeks after instituting the Step I Diet, subjects were randomized to two eggs or egg substitute daily for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Mean dietary intake (9-day food records) was within NCEP guidelines and 131 subjects finished with stable weight and adherence > 80%. Placebo group lipoprotein lipids were unchanged at study end for both HC (n = 35) and CHL (n = 21) subjects. Egg-fed HC subjects (n = 44) increased LDL-C nonsignificantly, 0.07 mmol/L (3 mg/dL) (p = 0.49). Egg-fed CHL subjects (n = 31) increased LDL-C 0.31 mmol/L (12 mg/dL) (p < 0.001). HDL-C increased significantly in both HC and CHL groups, 0.10 and 0.08 mmol/L (4 and 3 mg/dL, p = 0.003 and 0.02), respectively. HC and CHL subjects did not differ by apo E phenotype distribution. Postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and LDL subclass phenotype were unaffected by egg feeding in subsets of subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
CHL subjects ingesting a Step I Diet in a free-living setting are sensitive to egg feeding and should benefit from dietary cholesterol restriction. The limited LDL-C rise in HC subjects resembles that seen in egg-fed normocholesterolemic subjects ingesting a Step I Diet, but requires confirmation.
Knopp
R H
RH
Northwest Lipid Research Clinic, University of Washington, Seattle 98104, USA.
Retzlaff
B M
BM
Walden
C E
CE
Dowdy
A A
AA
Tsunehara
C H
CH
Austin
M A
MA
Nguyen
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004531:Eggs; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010641:Phenotype; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol