Designer egg evaluation in a controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, selenium (Se) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to deliver micronutrients to the human in a palatable and visually acceptable form.


METHODS
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, two treatment groups balanced for sex and age.


METHODS
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, SAC, Scotland.


METHODS
Forty healthy adult volunteers completed the study. Volunteers were recruited among staff of the Scottish Agricultural College Interventions: Volunteers consumed, for 8 weeks, either a designer egg or a normal table egg per day. Fasting blood samples were taken before and at the end of the study.


RESULTS
Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, Se and DHA significantly increased the levels of alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA in plasma as compared to the changes found after consumption of normal table eggs, with the largest increases found in plasma lutein (1.88-fold increase). The proportion of DHA was increased in all the main lipid classes of the plasma including triacylglycerol (2.3-fold), free fatty acids (1. 6-fold), cholesteryl ester (1.4-fold) and phospholipid (1.3-fold). Egg consumption did not change Se concentration in plasma, blood pressure, total plasma lipid concentrations or the concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in plasma.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, DHA and Se as part of normal diet for 8 weeks effectively increased the blood levels of alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA.


BACKGROUND
Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries Department.
Surai
P F
PF
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, SAC, Auchincruive, Ayr, Scotland KA6 5HW, UK. P.Surai@au.sac.ac.uk
MacPherson
A
A
Speake
B K
BK
Sparks
N H
NH
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D018977:Micronutrients; D014810:Vitamin E; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D012643:Selenium; D014975:Lutein