Enriched Eggs Supply Highly Bioavailable Lutein 35160

Enriched Eggs Supply Highly Bioavailable Lutein

BOSTON--Lutein from lutein-enriched eggs is more bioavailable thanfrom two types of lutein supplements or from spinach, according to a studypublished in the August issue of the Journal of Nutrition (134,8:1887-93, 2004) (www.nutrition.org).

In the study, 10 healthy men consumed a low-carotenoid diet over a two-weekwashout period, and then took supplemental lutein, supplemental lutein esters,spinach or lutein-enriched egg for nine days. All lutein doses provided 6 mglutein equivalents, with the exception of the lutein ester dose, which provided5.5 mg lutein equivalent. Serum samples were obtained from fasting subjects onthe day before baseline, day one (baseline), day two, day three and day 10, andwere analyzed for changes in lutein concentration. In addition,triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRL) were separated from postprandial bloodsamples after the first lutein dose and analyzed for lutein concentration.Subjects completed all four treatments of the study in random order.

Results showed the baseline and dose-adjusted lutein response in serum wassignificantly higher after lutein-enriched egg consumption than after lutein,lutein ester and spinach consumption on day 10. The lutein bioavailability fromlutein, lutein ester supplements and spinach did not differ. There was nosignificant difference in TRL response.

The researchers concluded lutein bioavailability from lutein-enriched egg ishigher than from lutein supplements, lutein ester supplements and spinach, andnoted these results may have implications for dietary recommendations that maydecrease the risk of certain diseases including age-related maculardegeneration.