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Review
. 2015 Apr 13;7(4):2731-47.
doi: 10.3390/nu7042731.

Egg phospholipids and cardiovascular health

Christopher N Blesso  1
Affiliations
Review

Egg phospholipids and cardiovascular health

Christopher N Blesso. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Eggs are a major source of phospholipids (PL) in the Western diet. Dietary PL have emerged as a potential source of bioactive lipids that may have widespread effects on pathways related to inflammation, cholesterol metabolism, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function. Based on pre-clinical studies, egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin appear to regulate cholesterol absorption and inflammation. In clinical studies, egg PL intake is associated with beneficial changes in biomarkers related to HDL reverse cholesterol transport. Recently, egg PC was shown to be a substrate for the generation of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbe-dependent metabolite associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. More research is warranted to examine potential serum TMAO responses with chronic egg ingestion and in different populations, such as diabetics. In this review, the recent basic science, clinical, and epidemiological findings examining egg PL intake and risk of CVD are summarized.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structures of major phospholipids in egg yolk. Major molecular species of egg glycerophospholipids (A) and sphingomyelin (B). Lipid structures were drawn using Lipid MAPS tools [31].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Potential pathways egg phospholipids could influence atherosclerosis. Egg phospholipids may lessen risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) via reducing lipid absorption (PC, SM), reducing hepatic lipids (PC, SM), increasing HDL cholesterol efflux (PC, SM), and reducing inflammation (PC). Egg PC may also influence CVD risk via gut microflora-dependent catabolism to TMA and liver conversion to TMAO. TMAO may increase CVD risk via increasing macrophage scavenger receptors and decreasing RCT via reduced bile acid synthesis. Abbreviations: ABCG1, ATP-binding cassette transporter G1; CD36, Cluster of Differentiation 36; FMO3, flavin containing monooxygenase 3; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; PC, phosphatidylcholine; PE, phosphatidylethanolamine; SM, sphingomyelin; SR-A, scavenger receptor A; SR-B1, scavenger receptor B1; TMA, trimethylamine; TMAO, trimethylamine N-oxide.
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