Intake of 3 Eggs per Day When Compared to a Choline Bitartrate Supplement, Downregulates Cholesterol Synthesis without Changing the LDL/HDL Ratio

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is associated with high concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The impact of dietary cholesterol on plasma lipid concentrations still remains a concern. The effects of egg intake in comparison to choline bitartrate supplement was studied in a young, healthy population. Thirty participants were enrolled for a 13-week intervention. After a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomized to consume either 3 eggs/day or a choline bitartrate supplement (~400 mg choline for both treatments) for 4-weeks each. After a 3-week washout period, they were allocated to the alternate treatment. Dietary records, plasma lipids, apolipoproteins (apo) concentrations, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell expression of regulatory genes for cholesterol homeostasis were assessed at the end of each intervention. Dietary intakes of saturated and monounsaturated fat were higher with the consumption of eggs compared to the choline period. In addition, higher plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (7.5%), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (5%) and LDL-C (8.1%) were observed with egg consumption (p < 0.01), while no change was seen in LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, a key marker of heart disease risk. Compared to choline supplementation, intake of eggs resulted in higher concentrations of plasma apoA-I (8%) and apoE (17%) with no changes in apoB. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase expression were lower with egg consumption by 18% and 31%, respectively (p < 0.05), suggesting a compensation to the increased dietary cholesterol load. Therefore, dietary cholesterol from eggs appears to regulate endogenous synthesis of cholesterol in such a way that the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is maintained.

Long Term Egg Yolk Consumption Alters Lipid Metabolism and Attenuates Hyperlipidemia in Mice Fed a High‐Fat Diet Based on Lipidomics Analysis

“…EY increased the level of serum HDL‐C, and accelerated the secretion of cholesterol and lowered cholesterol absorption, which is inversely associated with the risk of CVD . Previous study investigated the favorable effect of egg intake compared with choline bitartrate supplement on a young and healthy population and showed that EY significantly increased plasma apoA‐I (8%) and apoE (17%), decreased sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 2 and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase expression, and downregulated cholesterol biosynthesis . Other studies demonstrated that egg diet during moderate carbohydrate restriction improved HDL profiles, including modulating HDL phospholipid species composition .…”

“…Recently, numerous studies have shown that EY consumption had beneficial effects on hyperlipidemia by improving the functions of lipoproteins, reducing triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol, and regulating the involved lipid metabolism pathways . Other studies found that egg consumption (3 egg/day) could significantly increase plasma high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I) (8%) and apolipoprotein E (apoE), which promoted the cholesterol reverse transport (RCT) to the liver for bile acid synthesis in a young and healthy population . Another study reported that EY intake during carbohydrate restriction affected cholesterol homeostasis in metabolic syndrome (MetS) by increasing lipid transporter ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl (HMG)‐CoA reductase mRNA expression .…”

The Impact of Egg Nutrient Composition and Its Consumption on Cholesterol Homeostasis

“…Large epidemiological works have been conducted to investigate the effect of egg intake on blood cholesterol levels and risk of CVD in children [123], young people [16, 20, 47, 124], women [12–14, 125, 195, 196], men [12–14, 125, 195–199], and older adults [12–14, 125, 195–200]. Some have shown that egg consumption did influence the blood cholesterol level but did not increase the risk of CVD in healthy people.…”

Impact of Dietary Cholesterol on the Pathophysiology of Infectious and Autoimmune Disease

“…In a crossover study conducted with healthy men and women, consumption of 3 eggs per day for 4 weeks reduced PBMC mRNA expression of HMGCR and SREBP2 compared to daily intake of a choline bitartrate supplement [ 108 ]. These findings suggest the whole egg components—such as cholesterol—impact markers of leukocyte cholesterol homeostasis beyond choline fractions.…”

“…These findings suggest the whole egg components—such as cholesterol—impact markers of leukocyte cholesterol homeostasis beyond choline fractions. As described above, egg-induced reductions in HMGCR, LDLR, and SREBP2 mRNA expression observed in overweight and healthy adults may be due to compensatory mechanisms to suppress endogenous cholesterol synthesis and exogenous cholesterol uptake via LDL, presumably due to increased cellular cholesterol loading [ 104 , 105 , 108 ]. Accordingly, postprandial serum following egg intake in healthy men has been shown to increase free cholesterol content of J774 macrophages ex vivo [ 109 ].…”