The ALGOVUE Clinical Trial: Effects of the Daily Consumption of Eggs Enriched with Lutein and Docosahexaenoic Acid on Plasma Composition and Macular Pigment Optical Density

Coralie Schnebelen-Berthier (1) , Niyazi Acar (2, 3) , Emilie Simon (1) , Clémentine Thabuis (4) , Anne Bourdillon (5) , Adeline Mathiaud (5) , Luc Dauchet (6) , Cécile Delcourt (7) , Pascale Benlian (6) , Martine Crochet (8) , Sabine Defoort (1) , Anne Tailleux (6) , Bart Staels (6) , Lionel Brétillon (2, 3) , Jean-Michel Lecerf (1)

1 Institut Pasteur de Lille
2 CSGA - Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation [Dijon]
3 UBFC - Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE]
4 Roquette Frères
5 MIXscience
6 EGENODIA (GI3M) - Metabolic functional (epi)genomics and molecular mechanisms involved in type 2 diabetes and related diseases - UMR 8199 - UMR 1283
7 BPH - Bordeaux population health
8 Service d’Exploration de la Vision et Neuro-ophtalmologie [CHU Lille]

Background. Carotenoids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were identified as essential components for eye health and are both naturally present in eggs. Objective. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the daily consumption of two eggs enriched with lutein/zeaxanthin and DHA on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and on circulating xanthophyll and fatty acid concentrations in healthy participants. Methods. Ninety-nine healthy volunteers consumed either two standard eggs or two enriched eggs per day for 4 months. MPOD was measured at baseline (V0) and at follow-up (V4) using a modified confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (primary outcome). Blood samples were collected to determine total plasma and lipoprotein fatty acids and lutein/zeaxanthin compositions at V0 and V4 (secondary outcomes). Results. A slight but significant increase in MPOD was observed for all study participants consuming two eggs per day for 4 months at all eccentricities (0.5°, 1°, 2°, and 4°). Plasma and lipoprotein lutein, zeaxanthin, and DHA concentrations significantly increased in both groups but were greater in the enriched group (for the enriched group (V0 vs. V4): lutein, 167 vs. 369 ng/mL; zeaxanthin, 17.7 vs. 29.2 ng/mL; DHA, 1.89 vs. 2.56% of total fatty acids). Interestingly, lutein from high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was strongly correlated with MPOD at 0.5 and 1° eccentricities (rho = 0.385, p = 0.008, and rho = 0.461, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. MPOD was slightly increased in both groups. Lutein, zeaxanthin, and DHA plasma concentrations were strongly enhanced in the enriched group compared with the standard group. A significant correlation was found between MPOD level and lutein concentration in HDL.

Mots clés: age-related macular degeneration (AMD); docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); enriched egg; lutein; macular pigment; microalgae; xanthophylls

Domaines: Alimentation et Nutrition; Organes des sens

Coralie Schnebelen-Berthier, Niyazi Acar, Emilie Simon, Clémentine Thabuis, Anne Bourdillon, et al.. The ALGOVUE Clinical Trial: Effects of the Daily Consumption of Eggs Enriched with Lutein and Docosahexaenoic Acid on Plasma Composition and Macular Pigment Optical Density. Nutrients, 2021, 13 (10), pp.3347. ⟨10.3390/nu13103347⟩. ⟨hal-03426443⟩