Decrease in blood triglycerides associated with the consumption of eggs of hens fed with food supplemented with fish oil
Received 1 September 2005; received in revised form 14 November 2005; accepted 6 December 2005. published online 28 June 2006.
Abstract
Background
n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) convey several health benefits, including a reduction of serum concentration of triglycerides (TG).
Aim
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 3weeks followed by 5 enriched eggs per week during the next 3weeks 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.
aUnit for Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Disease, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Victoria, Seychelles
bUniversity Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
cDepartment of Physiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Corresponding author. Unit for Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Disease, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Victoria, Seychelles. Tel.: +248 388 000.
ABSTRACT