Eggs Improve Plasma Biomarkers in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome Following a Plant-Based Diet-A Randomized Crossover Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether adding two eggs per day to a plant-based diet would improve HDL cholesterol, plasma lutein, zeaxanthin, and choline levels in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
Results Summary
The study found that consuming eggs with a plant-based diet increased HDL cholesterol, plasma choline, and zeaxanthin, and reduced body weight compared to an egg substitute. No significant differences were observed in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or blood pressure.
Population
30 participants (49.3 ± 8 years) with metabolic syndrome, 24 of whom completed the study (13 women, 11 men).
Effective Dosage
Two eggs per day (or equivalent egg substitute) with 70 g of spinach for breakfast.
Duration
4 weeks per intervention (with 2-week and 3-week washout periods).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
addition of two eggs per day to a plant-based diet | increase | HDL cholesterol | individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) | - | increased | #1 |
addition of two eggs per day to a plant-based diet | increase | plasma lutein | individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) | - | increased | #2 |
addition of two eggs per day to a plant-based diet | increase | plasma zeaxanthin | individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) | - | increased | #3 |
addition of two eggs per day to a plant-based diet | increase | plasma choline | individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) | - | increased | #4 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | decrease | body weight | participants with MetS | - | lower | #5 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | increase | HDL cholesterol | participants with MetS | - | higher | #6 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | no change | plasma LDL cholesterol | participants with MetS | - | no differences | #7 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | no change | triglycerides | participants with MetS | - | no differences | #8 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | no change | glucose | participants with MetS | - | no differences | #9 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | no change | insulin | participants with MetS | - | no differences | #10 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | no change | blood pressure | participants with MetS | - | no differences | #11 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | increase | number of large HDL particles | participants with MetS | - | higher | #12 |
both treatments (EGG and SUB breakfasts) | increase | plasma choline | participants with MetS | 8.3 ± 2.1 μmol/L to higher values | higher | #13 |
EGG breakfast (spinach with two eggs) | increase | plasma choline | participants with MetS | 10.54 ± 2.8 μmol/L | higher | #14 |
SUB breakfast (spinach with egg substitute) | increase | plasma choline | participants with MetS | 9.47 ± 2.7 μmol/L | higher | #15 |
both breakfasts (EGG and SUB) | increase | plasma lutein | participants with MetS | - | increased | #16 |
egg intervention (EGG breakfast) | increase | plasma zeaxanthin | participants with MetS | - | increased | #17 |
Plant-based (PB) diets are considered a healthy dietary pattern; however, eggs are not always included in this dietary regime. We hypothesized that the addition of two eggs per day would increase HDL cholesterol as well as plasma lutein, zeaxanthin and choline in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this randomized controlled crossover intervention, we recruited 30 participants (49.3 ± 8 y) with MetS who followed a PB diet for 13 weeks. A registered dietitian advised all subjects on food selection and followed them through the intervention to ensure compliance. Participants underwent a 2-week washout with no eggs or spinach (a source of dietary lutein and zeaxanthin) and were randomly allocated to consume spinach (70 g) with either two eggs (EGG) or the equivalent amount of egg substitute (SUB) for breakfast for 4 weeks. After a 3-week washout, they were allocated the alternate breakfast. A total of 24 participants (13 women/11 men) finished the intervention. Plasma lipids, glucose, insulin, anthropometrics, plasma lutein, zeaxanthin, choline and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) were assessed at baseline and the end of each intervention. When we compared individuals consuming the EGG versus the SUB breakfast, we observed a lower body weight (p < 0.02) and a higher HDL cholesterol (p < 0.025) after the EGG diet. There were no differences in plasma LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or blood pressure. The number of large HDL particles measured by NMR was higher after EGG (p < 0.01) as compared to SUB. Plasma choline was higher in both treatments (p < 0.01) compared to baseline (8.3 ± 2.1 μmol/L). However, plasma choline values were higher in EGG (10.54 ± 2.8 μmol/L) compared to SUB (9.47 ± 2.7 μmol/L) p < 0.025. Both breakfasts increased plasma lutein compared to baseline (p < 0.01), while plasma zeaxanthin was only increased in the egg intervention (p < 0.01). These results indicate that consuming a plant-based diet in combination with whole eggs increases plasma HDL cholesterol, choline and zeaxanthin, important biomarkers in subjects with MetS.