Egg Yolks Good for Eyes, Heart

LOWELL, Mass.According to researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, consuming four egg yolk/d, and possibly two egg yolks/d for five weeks benefited macular health in older adults with low macular pigment optical density (MPOD) (Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90:1272-79). Additionally, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased without an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the study population, most of whom were taking cholesterol-lowering statins.

Researchers evaluated serum lutein, zeaxanthin and MPOD responses to the consumption of two and four egg yolks/d by older adults taking cholesterol-lowering medications. Subjects consumed foods containing two followed by four egg yolks/d for five weeks each with a four-week egg-free period at baseline and between the two interventions. Changes in MPOD (n=37) with egg yolk consumption were inversely associated (P<0.05) with baseline MPOD. Subjects with low-baseline MPOD showed increases of 50 percent with four egg yolks at the three retinal eccentricities. MPOD increased by 31 percent at 0.5 degrees with two egg yolks. Serum lutein increased by only 16 percent and 24 percent compared with increases of 36 percent and 82 percent in serum zeaxanthin (n=52) after consumption of two and four egg yolks, respectively. Serum HDL cholesterol increased by 5 percent after consumption of two and four egg yolks. Serum LDL cholesterol did not change with either egg yolk treatment.