Egg consumption improves vascular and gut microbiota function without increasing inflammatory, metabolic, and oxidative stress markers

Abstract

Egg consumption is one of the many inconsistencies in evidence linking dietary cholesterol to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In addition, the gut microbiota and its metabolite, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), have been shown to play a crucial role in the development of CVD. The fact that egg is rich in choline suggests that excessive egg consumption may increase TMAO production by altering the gut microbiota. However, the effects of egg consumption on vascular function and gut microbiota remain unclear. Here, the diet of nine young male subjects was supplemented with two boiled eggs daily for 2 weeks. Changes in vascular function, inflammation, metabolism, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota were examined. We found that egg consumption increased flow-mediated dilation and decreased brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Furthermore, egg consumption positively modulated the gut microbiota function but had no effects on the levels of C-reactive protein, glucose, lipid profile, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, or TMAO. The current study provides evidence that egg consumption improves vascular function, which may be related to the alterations seen in the gut microbiota. Therefore, moderate egg consumption may help to improve vascular and intestinal function in individuals at low risk of developing CVD and other metabolic disorders.