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Effects of egg ingestion on endothelial function in adults with coronary artery disease: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial.
Katz, DL, Gnanaraj, J, Treu, JA, Ma, Y, Kavak, Y, Njike, VY
American heart journal. 2015;(1):162-9
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevailing recommendations call for restricting intake of dietary cholesterol and eggs for those at risk of heart disease, despite accumulating evidence challenging this association. Our prior studies showed no short-term adverse effects of daily egg intake on cardiac risk factors in at-risk adults. OBJECTIVE We conducted this study to determine effects of daily egg consumption in adults with established coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS Randomized, controlled, single-blind, crossover trial of 32 adults (mean age, 67 years; 6 women, 26 men) with CAD assigned to 1 of 6 possible sequence permutations of 3 different treatments (breakfast with 2 eggs, breakfast with ½ cup Egg Beaters, ConAgra Foods, St. Louis, MO, or a high-carbohydrate breakfast part of an ad libitum diet) for 6 weeks, with 4-week washout periods. The primary outcome measure was endothelial function measured as flow-mediated dilatation. RESULTS Compared with the control breakfast (ie, high-carbohydrate breakfast), daily consumption of eggs showed no adverse effects on flow-mediated dilatation (7.2% ± 2.9% vs 7.5% ± 2.9%, P = .33), lipids (total cholesterol: 158.3 ± 28.6 mg/dL vs 156.2 ± 27.4 mg/dL, P = .49), blood pressure (systolic blood pressure: 132.8 ± 14.1 mm Hg or vs 135.5 ± 14.9 mm Hg, P = .52; diastolic blood pressure: 77.2 ± 6.1 mm Hg vs 76.7 ± 6.9 mm Hg, P = .86), or body weight (90.8 ± 17.5 kg vs 91.8 ± 17.1 kg, P = .92). No outcomes differed (P > .05) between eggs and Egg Beaters. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence of adverse effects of daily egg ingestion on any cardiac risk factors in adults with CAD over a span of 6 weeks.
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Effects of walnut consumption on endothelial function in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized controlled crossover trial.
Ma, Y, Njike, VY, Millet, J, Dutta, S, Doughty, K, Treu, JA, Katz, DL
Diabetes care. 2010;(2):227-32
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of daily walnut consumption on endothelial function, cardiovascular biomarkers, and anthropometric measures in type 2 diabetic individuals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study was a randomized, controlled, single-blind, crossover trial. Twenty-four participants with type 2 diabetes (mean age 58 years; 14 women and 10 men) were randomly assigned to one of the two possible sequence permutations to receive an ad libitum diet enriched with 56 g (366 kcal) walnuts/day and an ad libitum diet without walnuts for 8 weeks. Subjects underwent endothelial function testing (measured as flow-mediated dilatation [FMD]) and assessment of cardiovascular biomarkers before and after each 8-week treatment phase. The primary outcome measure was the change in FMD after 8 weeks. Secondary outcome measures included changes in plasma lipids, A1C, fasting glucose, insulin sensitivity, and anthropometric measures. RESULTS Endothelial function significantly improved after consumption of a walnut-enriched ad libitum diet compared with that after consumption of an ad libitum diet without walnuts (2.2 +/- 1.7 vs. 1.2 +/- 1.6%; P = 0.04). The walnut-enriched diet increased fasting serum glucose and lowered serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol from baseline (10.0 +/- 20.5 mg/dl, P = 0.04; -9.7 +/- 14.5 mg/dl, P < 0.01; and -7.7 +/- 10 mg/dl, P < 0.01, respectively), although these changes were not significant compared with those for an ad libitum diet without walnuts. There were no significant changes in anthropometric measures, plasma A1C, and insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS A walnut-enriched ad libitum diet improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in type 2 diabetic individuals, suggesting a potential reduction in overall cardiac risk.