Intake of 3 Eggs/Day or Equivalent Amount of Choline as Supplement for 4 Weeks Increases Plasma Choline Without Changing Plasma TMAO in Participants with Metabolic Syndrome

• Published in: Current developments in nutrition Vol. 4; no. Supplement_2; p. nzaa045_113
• Main Authors: Thomas, Minu, Dibella, Marissa, Malysheva, Olga V, Caudill, Marie A, Blesso, Christopher, Fernandez, Maria-Luz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Inc 01.06.2020; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Dietary Bioactive Components; Eggs; Enzymes; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Metabolic syndrome; Plasma
• ISSN: 2475-2991; 2475-2991
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa045_113

Our previous study in a young healthy population indicated that choline from eggs (phosphatidylcholine) was more bioavailable than choline from a supplement (choline bitartrate) as determined by plasma choline concentrations. The purpose of this study was to compare equivalent amounts of two choline sources on plasma choline and its derivatives including trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and inflammatory markers in men and women aged 32 to 70 years old with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Twenty-three subjects with MetS were included in this randomized, crossover clinical trial. Participants underwent an initial period of 2 weeks without consuming any eggs, which was followed by a random allocation to either 3 eggs/day or a choline-supplement for 4 weeks (both diets had a choline equivalent of 400 mg per day). Following a 3-week washout period, participants were allocated to the alternate diet. We measured plasma choline and plasma TMAO as well as C-reactive protein (CRP), inflammatory markers and liver enzymes. Although there was an overall significant increase in plasma choline after egg intake, compared to baseline (P < 0.01), there were no significant differences between egg and supplement at the end of the respective interventions (P > 0.05). Baseline values were 7.9 ± 2.1 nmol/ml compared to 9.9 ± 2.2 and 9.5 ± 2.1 nmol/ml for the egg and supplement, respectively (P < 0.01). In addition, plasma TMAO was not different between baseline, or at the end of the egg and supplement periods (P > 0.1). When we measured inflammatory markers, compared to baseline CRP was lower after the egg period (0.49 ± 0.50 vs. 0.36 ± 0.37 mg/dL, P < 0.01) while no differences in this parameter were observed at the end of the egg or the supplement period. Liver enzymes were not affected by treatment. These studies indicate that in contrast to healthy individuals, the plasma choline response appears to be similar in MetS participants, independent of its source or chemical composition. Analyzing the microbiota of these subjects will provide additional information regarding how choline is metabolized in individuals with MetS. The Egg Nutrition Center.