Decrease in blood triglycerides associated with the consumption of eggs of hens fed with food supplemented with fish oil.
BACKGROUND
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) convey several health benefits, including a reduction of serum concentration of triglycerides (TG).


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect on blood lipids, particularly TG, of a diet with n-3 PUFA enriched eggs in healthy volunteers in the Seychelles (Indian Ocean).


METHODS
Double-blind crossover trial with one group of volunteers fed with 5 normal eggs per week during 3 weeks followed by 5 enriched eggs per week during the next 3 weeks while the other group received eggs in the inverse sequence. Hen feed was supplemented at 5% with tuna oil. Enriched eggs contained nine times more n-3 PUFA than usual eggs (mainly docosahexaenoic acid).


RESULTS
Twenty-five healthy volunteers participated in the study. Based on pooled results observed during the two 3-week periods, consumption of enriched eggs was associated with a significant 16-18% decrease in serum triglycerides (P<0.01) but with no significant difference in serum LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. Serum LDL-cholesterol increased during the first 3-week period and decreased during the second 3-week period with both normal and enriched eggs. Participants did not report a systematic preference for either type of eggs.


CONCLUSIONS
Reasonable consumption of n-3 PUFA enriched eggs was associated with a significant decrease in serum triglycerides. These eggs could be a palatably acceptable source of n-3 PUFA.
Bovet
Pascal
P
Unit for Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Disease, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Victoria, Seychelles, USA. pbovet@seychelles.net
Faeh
David
D
Madeleine
George
G
Viswanathan
Bharathi
B
Paccaud
Fred
F
D000328:Adult; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014280:Triglycerides