Abstract:
Lipids are an important nutritional component of the avian egg. A
review of the literature was completed to determine the fatty acid compositions
in egg yolk from some avian species. Additionally, the nutritional
influence of lipid and lipoprotein content on the plasma of male
participants during 30-day feeding was discussed. The ostrich eggs had
the highest unsaturated fatty acid and the lowest cholesterol content in
relation to other avian species. Ostrich had a higher proportion of
18:3n-3 (p < 0.01) compared with other species. Chicken yolk numerically
contained much higher levels of 22:6n-3 than those found in turkeys,
quails and geese, but the amount of 22:6n-3 in ostrich egg was
lower by comparison with other species (p < 0.01). After the storage of
eggs at the room temperature, there was a notable loss of vitamin E
(vitE) in the yolks of all species and this decrease was marginal
(p < 0.01) in ostrich compared with other species. There were significant
(p < 0.05) increases in plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level in all
male subjects. Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level decreased
(p < 0.05) only in men who were fed chicken or ostrich eggs daily. Consumption
of different species’ eggs had no influence on the total male
plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. LDL-C:HDL-C ratio increased
(p < 0.05) after goose and turkey egg consumption. Consumption of one
egg/month by healthy human subjects had no effect on serum total cholesterol
and triglyceride. The LDL-C:HDL-C ratio (which is a strong
predictor of coronary heart disease risk) increased, although non-significantly,
by consuming chicken, quail and ostrich eggs.
