The effect of ingestion of egg and low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation on serum lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic women

Abstract

Egg is a major source of dietary cholesterol. The serum lipid response to egg shows marked individual variation, being partly genetically determined, and influence by ethnic groups and the overall diet response. In the present investigation, we investigated the effect of ingestion of egg and low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation on serum lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic women. Forty hypercholesterolemic women volunteers on a cholesterol-lowering diet (CLD) divided into 2 groups in a randomized controlled cross-over study of one egg per day (CLD + 1 egg) for 4-week and three eggs per day (CLD + 3 eggs) for 4-week, separated by 4-week period egg-free. The body weight, blood pressure, serum lipid profiles and LDL oxidation were measured at 4-week intervals. Cholesterol-lowering diet was applied throughout the study by a dietitian using a food exchange program and 3-day dietary recall every 4 weeks. Compared to the values obtained at baseline, the mean serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol of CLD + 3 eggs was not significantly different from baseline whereas of those of 4-week of egg-free period and CLD + 1 egg were significantly decreased (238.3±2.9 mg/dL and 228.3±4.7 mg/dL) compared to the baseline (252.2±5.9 mg/dL) as was LDL cholesterol (161.2±3.0 mg/dL and 155.7±4.8 mg/dL) compared to the baseline (177.5± 6.0 mg/dL) (p < 0.05). The study showed there were no significantly difference the body weight, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides or LDL oxidation during the study. However, serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol of 1 or 3 eggs per day after 4-week of egg consumption was not significantly higher than the egg-free period. The study suggests that in hypercholesterolemic women who are on cholesterol-lowering diet, consuming one or three eggs per day did not raise serum cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels at 4 weeks or result in any change in LDL oxidation.