The consumption of 12 Eggs per week for 1 year does not alter fasting serum markers of cardiovascular disease in older adults with early macular degeneration

Abstract

Some studies suggest that eating more than one egg daily may increase risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of consuming eggs on various serum markers associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Forty-five independently living adults diagnosed with early macular degeneration, but healthy otherwise were recruited into the study. Subjects were placed into the Intervention (n = 27) or Control group (n = 18) based on whether or not they would consume eggs. The Intervention group consumed 12 eggs per week while the Control group refrained from consuming any whole egg products for 1 year. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), glucose, apolipoprotein (apo) A-1 and apo B, lipoprotein (Lp)a and high-sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration was calculated via the Friedewald equation. Serum TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, apo A-1, apo B, Lpa and hsCRP concentrations did not change at any time in both the Intervention and Control groups compared to baseline nor were there any differences between the two treatment. Serum glucose concentrations did increase significantly in the Intervention group at 6 months compared to baseline (23%, P < 0.05) but decreased back to baseline concentrations at 12 months. This study suggests that the consumption of 12 eggs per week for 1 year does not significantly alter fasting serum lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol, or other biomarkers of CVD in older adults diagnosed with early macular degeneration.