Cardiovascular Effects of a Healthy Dietary Pattern Containing Eggs

This is a 2-period, randomized, crossover, controlled feeding study examining the effect of 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans adherent dietary patterns containing 2 eggs/day/2000 kcal (HD+E) compared to 3 eggs/week/2000 kcal (HD) on biomarkers of cardiovascular health and function after 4 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• LDL-C ≥115 mg/dL and ≤190 mg/L
• BMI of 25-35 kg/m2
• Intake of <14 eggs/week for the prior 3 months
• Blood pressure <140/90 mmHg
• Fasting blood glucose <126 mg/dL
• Fasting triglycerides <350 mg/dL
• ≤10% change in body weight in the prior 6 months

Exclusion criteria

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes or fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL
• Prescription of anti-hypertensive, lipid lowering or glucose lowering drugs
• Intake of supplements that affect the outcomes of interest and unwilling to cease during the study period
• Diagnosed liver, kidney, or autoimmune disease
• Prior cardiovascular event (e.g., stroke, heart attack)
• Current pregnancy or intention of pregnancy within the next 6 months
• Lactation within prior 6 months
• Follows a vegetarian or vegan diet
• Food allergies/intolerance/sensitives/dislikes of foods included in the study menu
• Antibiotic use within the prior 1 month
• Oral steroid use within the prior 1 month
• Use of tobacco or nicotine containing products with in the past 6 months
• Cancer any site within the past 10 years (eligible if ≥10 years without recurrence) or non-melanoma skin cancer with in the past 5 years (eligible if ≥5 years without recurrence)
• Participation in another clinical trial within 30 days of baseline
• Currently following a restricted or weight loss diet
• Prior bariatric surgery
• Intake of >14 alcoholic drinks/week and/or lack of willingness to consume a maximum of two standard drinks per week while enrolled in the study and/or not willing to avoid alcohol consumption for 48 hour prior to test visits