Objective: To evaluate the ability of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E,
lutein, selenium (Se) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to deliver micronutrie
nts to the human in a palatable and visually acceptable form.
Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, two treatment groups balanc
ed for sex and age.
Setting: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, SAG, Scotland.
Subjects: Forty healthy adult Volunteers completed the study. Volunteers we
re recruited among staff of the Scottish Agricultural College.
Interventions: Volunteers consumed, for 8 weeks, either a designer egg or a
normal table egg per day. Fasting blood samples were taken before and at t
he end of the study.
Results: Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, Se and
DHA significantly increased the levels alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA in
plasma as compared to the changes found after consumption of normal table
eggs, with the largest increases found in plasma lutein (1.88-fold increase
). The proportion of DHA was increased in all the main lipid classes of the
plasma including triacylglycerol (2.3-fold), free fatty acids (1.6-fold),
cholesteryl ester(l.-l-fold) and phospholipid (1.3-fold). Egg consumption d
id not change Sc concentration in plasma, blood pressure, total plasma lipi
d concentrations or the concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholest
erol in plasma.
Conclusion; Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, DHA
and Se as part of normal diet for 8 weeks effectively increased the blood
levels of alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA.
Sponsorship: Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries Depart
ment.