The Effect of Modified Eggs and an Egg-yolk Based Beverage on Serum Lutein and Zeaxanthin Concentrations and Macular Pigment Optical Density: Results from a Randomized Trial

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2014 Mar 29

PMID 24675775

Citations 17

Authors

Elton R Kelly

Jogchum Plat

Guido R M M Haenen

Aize Kijlstra

Tos T J M Berendschot

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Unlabelled: Increasing evidence suggests a beneficial effect of lutein and zeaxanthin on the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lutein or zeaxanthin enriched eggs or a lutein enriched egg-yolk based buttermilk beverage on serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations and macular pigment levels. Naturally enriched eggs were made by increasing the levels of the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin in the feed given to laying hens. One hundred healthy volunteers were recruited and randomized into 5 groups for 90 days. Group one added one normal egg to their daily diet and group two received a lutein enriched egg-yolk based beverage. Group three added one lutein enriched egg and group four one zeaxanthin enriched egg to their diet. Group five was the control group and individuals in this group did not modify their daily diet. Serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations and macular pigment densities were obtained at baseline, day 45 and day 90. Macular pigment density was measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry. Serum lutein concentration in the lutein enriched egg and egg yolk-based beverage groups increased significantly (p<0.001, 76% and 77%). A strong increase in the serum zeaxanthin concentration was observed in individuals receiving zeaxanthin enriched eggs (P< 0.001, 430%). No changes were observed in macular pigment density in the various groups tested. The results indicate that daily consumption of lutein or zeaxanthin enriched egg yolks as well as an egg yolk-based beverage show increases in serum lutein and zeaxanthin levels that are comparable with a daily use of 5 mg supplements.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00527553.

Citing Articles

Antioxidants and Mechanistic Insights for Managing Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Basyal D, Lee S, Kim H Antioxidants (Basel). 2024; 13(5).

PMID: 38790673 PMC: 11117704. DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050568.

Annatto-Enriched Egg Improves the Perception of Satiety in Healthy Adults-Randomized Clinical Trial: EGGANT Study.

Galvis-Perez Y, Pineda K, Zapata J, Aristizabal J, Estrada A, Fernandez M Foods. 2024; 13(5).

PMID: 38472844 PMC: 10931298. DOI: 10.3390/foods13050731.

Consumption of Eggs Alone or Enriched with Annatto ( L.) Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Healthy Adults-A Randomized Clinical Trial, the Eggant Study.

Galvis Y, Pineda K, Zapata J, Aristizabal J, Estrada A, Fernandez M Nutrients. 2023; 15(2).

PMID: 36678239 PMC: 9865189. DOI: 10.3390/nu15020369.

Eggs Improve Plasma Biomarkers in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome Following a Plant-Based Diet-A Randomized Crossover Study.

Thomas M, Puglisi M, Malysheva O, Caudill M, Sholola M, Cooperstone J Nutrients. 2022; 14(10).

PMID: 35631279 PMC: 9147178. DOI: 10.3390/nu14102138.

The Effect of Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake on Human Macular Pigment Optical Density: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Wilson L, Tharmarajah S, Jia Y, Semba R, Schaumberg D, Robinson K Adv Nutr. 2021; 12(6):2244-2254.

PMID: 34157098 PMC: 8634499. DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab071.

References

Parisi V, Tedeschi M, Gallinaro G, Varano M, Saviano S, Piermarocchi S . Carotenoids and antioxidants in age-related maculopathy italian study: multifocal electroretinogram modifications after 1 year. Ophthalmology. 2007; 115(2):324-333.e2. DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2007.05.029. View

Handelman G, Nightingale Z, Lichtenstein A, Schaefer E, Blumberg J . Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in plasma after dietary supplementation with egg yolk. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 70(2):247-51. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn.70.2.247. View

Junghans A, Sies H, Stahl W . Macular pigments lutein and zeaxanthin as blue light filters studied in liposomes. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2001; 391(2):160-4. DOI: 10.1006/abbi.2001.2411. View

Snodderly D, Auran J, Delori F . The macular pigment. II. Spatial distribution in primate retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1984; 25(6):674-85. View

Berendschot T, Goldbohm R, Klopping W, van de Kraats J, van Norel J, van Norren D . Influence of lutein supplementation on macular pigment, assessed with two objective techniques. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000; 41(11):3322-6. View

Sujak A, Gabrielska J, Grudzinski W, Borc R, Mazurek P, Gruszecki W . Lutein and zeaxanthin as protectors of lipid membranes against oxidative damage: the structural aspects. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1999; 371(2):301-7. DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1999.1437. View

Ravikrishnan R, Rusia S, Ilamurugan G, Salunkhe U, Deshpande J, Shankaranarayanan J . Safety assessment of lutein and zeaxanthin (Lutemax 2020): subchronic toxicity and mutagenicity studies. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011; 49(11):2841-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.08.011. View

. Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013; 309(19):2005-15. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2013.4997. View

KAHN H, LEIBOWITZ H, Ganley J, KINI M, Colton T, Nickerson R . The Framingham Eye Study. I. Outline and major prevalence findings. Am J Epidemiol. 1977; 106(1):17-32. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112428. View

10.

van der Veen R, Berendschot T, Hendrikse F, Carden D, Makridaki M, Murray I . A new desktop instrument for measuring macular pigment optical density based on a novel technique for setting flicker thresholds. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2009; 29(2):127-37. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2008.00618.x. View

11.

Ma L, Dou H, Huang Y, Lu X, Xu X, Qian F . Improvement of retinal function in early age-related macular degeneration after lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 2012; 154(4):625-634.e1. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2012.04.014. View

12.

Trieschmann M, Beatty S, Nolan J, Hense H, Heimes B, Austermann U . Changes in macular pigment optical density and serum concentrations of its constituent carotenoids following supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin: the LUNA study. Exp Eye Res. 2007; 84(4):718-28. DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2006.12.010. View

13.

Chung H, Rasmussen H, Johnson E . Lutein bioavailability is higher from lutein-enriched eggs than from supplements and spinach in men. J Nutr. 2004; 134(8):1887-93. DOI: 10.1093/jn/134.8.1887. View

14.

Falsini B, Piccardi M, Iarossi G, Fadda A, Merendino E, Valentini P . Influence of short-term antioxidant supplementation on macular function in age-related maculopathy: a pilot study including electrophysiologic assessment. Ophthalmology. 2003; 110(1):51-60; discussion 61. DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(02)01547-6. View

15.

Vaisman N, Haenen G, Zaruk Y, Verduyn C, Bindels J, Verlaan S . Enteral feeding enriched with carotenoids normalizes the carotenoid status and reduces oxidative stress in long-term enterally fed patients. Clin Nutr. 2006; 25(6):897-905. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2006.06.002. View

16.

Surai P, Macpherson A, Speake B, Sparks N . Designer egg evaluation in a controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000; 54(4):298-305. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600939. View

17.

Connolly E, Beatty S, Loughman J, Howard A, Louw M, Nolan J . Supplementation with all three macular carotenoids: response, stability, and safety. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011; 52(12):9207-17. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.11-8025. View

18.

Clark R, Herron K, Waters D, Fernandez M . Hypo- and hyperresponse to egg cholesterol predicts plasma lutein and beta-carotene concentrations in men and women. J Nutr. 2006; 136(3):601-7. DOI: 10.1093/jn/136.3.601. View

19.

Landrum J, Bone R, Joa H, Kilburn M, Moore L, Sprague K . A one year study of the macular pigment: the effect of 140 days of a lutein supplement. Exp Eye Res. 1997; 65(1):57-62. DOI: 10.1006/exer.1997.0309. View

20.

Vishwanathan R, Goodrow-Kotyla E, Wooten B, Wilson T, Nicolosi R . Consumption of 2 and 4 egg yolks/d for 5 wk increases macular pigment concentrations in older adults with low macular pigment taking cholesterol-lowering statins. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009; 90(5):1272-9. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28013. View