A Three-Month Consumption of Eggs Enriched with ω-3, ω-5 and ω-7 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Significantly Decreases the Waist Circumference of Subjects at Risk of Developing Metabolic Syndrome: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), rumenic acid (RmA), and punicic acid (PunA) are claimed to influence several physiological functions including insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and inflammatory processes. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, we investigated the combined effect of ALA, DHA, RmA and PunA on subjects at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Twenty-four women and men were randomly assigned to two groups. Each day, they consumed two eggs enriched with oleic acid (control group) or enriched with ALA, DHA, RmA, and PunA (test group) for 3 months. The waist circumference decreased significantly (-3.17 cm; p < 0.001) in the test group. There were no major changes in plasma insulin and blood glucose in the two groups. The dietary treatments had no significant effect on endothelial function as measured by peripheral arterial tonometry, although erythrocyte nitrosylated hemoglobin concentrations tended to decrease. The high consumption of eggs induced significant elevations in plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (p < 0.001), which did not result in any change in the LDL/HDL ratio in both groups. These results indicate that consumption of eggs enriched with ALA, DHA, RmA and PunA resulted in favorable changes in abdominal obesity without affecting other factors of the metabolic syndrome.

The Egg Yolk Content in ω-3 and Conjugated Fatty Acids Can Be Sustainably Increased upon Long-Term Feeding of Laying Hens with a Diet Containing Flaxseeds and Pomegranate Seed Oil

“…However, eggs have been tested for regular consumption for 3 months by a panel of egg eaters. No adverse effects of enrichment on egg quality were reported [24].…”

“…The data presented in this paper are associated with the study entitled "A threemonth consumption of eggs enriched with ω-3, ω-5 and ω-7 polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly decreases the waist circumference of subjects at risk of developing metabolic syndrome: a double-blind randomized controlled trial" [24]. The animals used in the framework of this study were raised in compliance with animal care and welfare directives at the University Farm of UCLouvain (Corroy-le-Grand, Belgium).…”

Lipids in Pathophysiology and Development of the Membrane Lipid Therapy: New Bioactive Lipids

“…Moreover, unsaturated fatty acids (mainly eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], DHA, and oleic acid [OA]) have been associated with a lower risk or incidence of cancer, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative pathologies, etc. [104][105][106][107][108][109]. The normotensive effects of olive oil are mainly due to its high levels of a cis-monounsaturated fatty acid, OA, with high extra virgin olive oil intake reflected in an OA increase in membranes, which produces relevant changes in the signaling pathways that control blood pressure [64,100].…”