Title: Eggs modulate the inflammatory response to carbohydrate restricted
diets in overweight men

http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/5/1/6

Background
Carbohydrate restricted diets (CRD) consistently lower glucose and insulin
levels and improve atherogenic dyslipidemia [decreasing triglycerides and
increasing HDL cholesterol (HDL-C)]. We have previously shown that male
subjects following a CRD experienced significant increases in HDL-C only if
they were consuming a higher intake of cholesterol provided by eggs compared
to those individuals who were taking lower concentrations of dietary
cholesterol. Here, as a follow up of our previous study, we examined the
effects of eggs (a source of both dietary cholesterol and lutein) on
adiponectin, a marker of insulin sensitivity, and on inflammatory markers in
the context of a CRD.

Methods
Twenty eight overweight men [body mass index (BMI) 26-37 kg/m2] aged 40-70 y
consumed an ad libitum CRD (% energy from CHO:fat:protein = 17:57:26) for 12
wk. Subjects were matched by age and BMI and randomly assigned to consume
eggs (EGG, n=15) (640 mg additional cholesterol/day provided by eggs) or
placebo (SUB, n=13) (no additional dietary cholesterol). Fasting blood
samples were drawn before and after the intervention to assess plasma
lipids, insulin, adiponectin and markers of inflammation including
C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-I+/-),
interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1),
intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion
molecule-1(VCAM-1).

Results
Body weight, percent total body fat and trunk fat were reduced for all
subjects after 12 wk (P < 0.0001). Increases in adiponectin were also
observed (P < 0.01). Subjects in the EGG group had a 21% increase in this
adipokine compared to a 7% increase in the SUB group (P < 0.05). Plasma CRP
was significantly decreased only in the EGG group (P < 0.05). MCP-1 levels
were decreased for the SUB group (P< 0.001), but unchanged in the EGG group.
VCAM-1, ICAM-1, TNF-alpha and IL-8 were not modified by CRD or eggs.

Conclusions
A CRD with daily intake of eggs decreased plasma CRP and increased plasma
adiponectin compared to a CRD without eggs. These findings indicate that
eggs make a significant contribution to the anti-inflammatory effects of
CRD, possibly due to the presence of cholesterol, which increases HDL-C and
to the antioxidant lutein which modulates certain inflammatory responses.