Egg intake does not change plasma lipoprotein and coagulation profiles

The effect of the intake of 3–14 eggs/wk on biochemical risk markers of coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined in 70 young men who followed a high-fat diet. The study consisted of a run-in phase during which all subjects ate 3 eggs/wk for 2 mo and an experimental phase during which a reference group continued eating 3 eggs/wk and two experimental groups ate either 7 or 14 eggs/wk for 5 mo. The mean coefficients of variation in total plasma cholesterol (5.4–7.4%) were similar in all three groups and were larger than the mean changes of 0.2–5.6% in plasma cholesterol from baseline to end in the experimental groups. Except for increased lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activities and total serum protein concentrations, no significant differences in lipoproteins or coagulation factors occurred between groups. It seems that egg intake in this range did not influence CHD risk markers in these subjects. Recommendations to lower risk should probably concentrate on a reduction in fat and not cholesterol intake.