Benefits of Eggs in Combination With a Plant-based Diet

University of Connecticut24 enrolled

Overview

The main objective of the study is to demonstrate that the inclusion of eggs to a plant-based diet will not increase the risk for heart disease but will increase the concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin, two important antioxidants and will also increase choline, an important component of membrane phospholipids.

Results from studies involving cells, animal models and clinical trials have demonstrated that lutein and zeaxanthin potentially protect against chronic diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, coronary heart disease and stroke. Plasma concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin are closely associated with their antioxidant properties and with their protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Choline is recognized as an essential nutrient for health because of its many functions in growth and development, as well as neurological function and formation of membrane phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin. Therefore the objective of this study is to demonstrate that inclusion of eggs in a plant-based diet will potentiate the benefits of this healthy diet by increasing plasma concentrations of lutein, zexanthin and choline presents in egg yolks and theoretically increase the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions of these components. This would be potentially more important in those individuals with metabolic syndrome, which is the target population of this intervention.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Coronary Artery Disease Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome

Interventions

Consume 2 eggs with spinach per dayOTHER

Participants will be randomly allocated to consume either 2 eggs or 2 egg substitutes with spinach daily for 4 weeks and after a 3-week wash out, they will be allocated to the alternate treatment

Egg Subsitute with spinach per dayOTHER

Egg Subsitute with spinach per day

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 35 YearsMax age: 70 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * All genders * 35-70 years * Metabolic syndrome (based on 3 out of 5 characteristics: waist circumference. 88 cm for women and \> 102 cm for men; plasma triglycerides \> 150 mg/dL, blood pressure \> 135/85 mm Hg, fasting glucose \> 100 mg/dL and HDL \< 40 mg/dL for men and \< 50 mg/dL for women) * Willing to consume a spinach omelet made with 2 eggs or the equivalent amount of egg substitute daily for 4 weeks each * Willing to follow a plant-based diet for 13 weeks * Not have cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, liver or renal disease * Proficient in English Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported diabetes, cardiovascular disease, history of stroke, liver disease or cancer * Taking glucose lowering medications * Triglycerides \> 500 mg/dL * Cholesterol \> 240 mg/dL * Blood pressure \> 145/100 mm Hg * Allergic to eggs or spinach

Locations (1)

Department of Nutritional Sciences

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Plasma lutein

Plasma lutien will be measured by HPLC. The units are expresses as µmol/L

Time frame: 1 year

Plasma choline

It will be measured by mass spectometry. The units are expressed as nmol/mL

Time frame: 1 year

Plasma Zeaxanthin

Plasma zeaxanthin will by measured by HPLC. The units are expressed as µmol/L

Time frame: 1 year

Secondary Outcomes

Plasma lipids

Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides will be measured by an automated spectrometer simultaneously. The units are expressed as mg/dL

Time frame: 1 year

Plasma glucose

Plasma glucose will be measured by an automated spectrometer. Units are expressed as mg/dL

Time frame: 1 Year

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.