Consumption of 2 and 4 egg yolks/d for 5 wk increases macular pigment concentrations in older adults with low macular pigment taking cholesterol-lowering statins.
BACKGROUND
Lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of dry, age-related macular degeneration because of their photo-oxidative role as macular pigment.


OBJECTIVE
The present study evaluated serum lutein, zeaxanthin, and macular pigment optical density (MPOD) responses at 0.25 degrees , 0.5 degrees , and 1 degree retinal eccentricities to the consumption of 2 and 4 egg yolks/d by older adults taking cholesterol-lowering medications.


METHODS
Subjects consumed foods containing 2 followed by 4 egg yolks/d for 5 wk each with a 4-wk egg-free period at baseline and between the 2 interventions.


RESULTS
Changes in MPOD (n = 37) with egg yolk consumption were inversely associated (P < 0.05) with baseline MPOD. Subjects with low-baseline MPOD (defined as MPOD < or =0.5 at 0.25 degrees , < or =0.4 at 0.5 degrees , and < or =0.35 at 1 degrees ) showed increases of < or =50% (P < 0.05) with 4 egg yolks at the 3 retinal eccentricities. MPOD increased by 31% (P = 0.059) at 0.5 degrees with 2 egg yolks. Serum lutein increased by only 16% and 24% (P < 0.05) compared with increases of 36% and 82% (P < 0.001) in serum zeaxanthin (n = 52) after consumption of 2 and 4 egg yolks, respectively. Serum HDL cholesterol increased by 5% (P < 0.05) after consumption of 2 and 4 egg yolks. Serum LDL cholesterol did not change with either egg yolk treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of 4 egg yolks/d, and possibly of 2 egg yolks/d, for 5 wk benefited macular health in older adults with low MPOD. Serum HDL cholesterol increased without an increase in LDL cholesterol in this study population, most of whom were taking cholesterol-lowering statins.
Vishwanathan
Rohini
R
Department of Clinical Laboratory and Nutritional Sciences, Center for Health and Disease Research, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854-5125, USA.
Goodrow-Kotyla
Elizabeth F
EF
Wooten
Billy R
BR
Wilson
Thomas A
TA
Nicolosi
Robert J
RJ
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065146:Zeaxanthins
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein