CONSUMPTION OF N-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID-ENRICHED EGGS AND CHANGES IN PLASMA-LIPIDS OF HUMAN-SUBJECTS

The cholesterolemic effect of chicken eggs enriched with n-3 polyunsat urated fatty acids (PUFA) was investigated in healthy volunteers. Twen ty-three male university students consumed two regular or n-3 PUFA-enr iched eggs per day with their habitual diet for 18 days. Plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C) level s were raised in subjects who consumed regular eggs but were maintaine d virtually unchanged in those who consumed n-3 PUFA-enriched eggs. In take of two regular eggs a day did not affect plasma high-density lipo protein cholesterol (HDL-C) and plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, but i ntake of two n-3 PUFA-enriched eggs a day resulted in a significant el evation in HDL-C (p < 0.05) and a reduction in plasma TG (p < 0.01). C onsuming regular eggs tended to decrease both HDL-C/TC and HDL-C/LDL-C ratios, whereas consuming n-3-enriched eggs tended to increase them. The n-3 PUFA contents in plasma lipids of subjects who consumed n-3 PU FA-enriched eggs were also found to be elevated. These results demonst rate that the cholesterolemic property of chicken eggs can be modified by altering the fatty acid composition of yolk lipids.