Effects of powdered fertilized eggs on the stress response.
OBJECTIVE
Effects of nutritional supplements on psychological wellbeing receive increasing attention. This double-blind placebo-controlled study investigated effects of a four week intake of powder of fertilized eggs (Young Tissue Extract; YTE) in a laboratory protocol (Trier Social Stress Test; TSST).


METHODS
Aside the laboratory stress test, we examined differential effects on subjects with high and low levels of chronic stress. Thus, subjects were further divided into two subgroups with scores for chronic stress scores below and above average, respectively.


RESULTS
Compared to placebo, a four week intake of YTE did not result in superior effects on general wellbeing. However, beneficial effects of YTE were observed in subjects with enhanced levels of chronic stress. When compared to placebo these subjects showed an improvement of both the psychological and endocrine stress response.


CONCLUSIONS
Group differences suggest that YTE selectively improves adaptation to acute stress by normalizing the endocrine and the subjective stress response. Subjects with less chronic stress also reported less subjective stress but did not show beneficial effects on the endocrine stress response.
Schult
Johannes
J
DAaCRO, Diagnostic Assessment and Clinical Research Organization, Science Park, D-54296 Trier, Germany.
Hero
Torsten
T
Hellhammer
Juliane
J
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004531:Eggs; D004644:Emotions; D005306:Fertilization; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011208:Powders; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014851:Wakefulness; D055815:Young Adult
D011208:Powders; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D006854:Hydrocortisone