Does the Endothelium of Competitive Athletes Benefit from Consumption of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Hen Eggs?

Enhanced Microvascular Adaptation to Acute Physical Stress and Reduced Oxidative Stress in Male Athletes Who Consumed Chicken Eggs Enriched with n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Antioxidants-Randomized Clinical Trial

This randomized interventional study aimed to determine the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, selenium, vitamin E, and lutein supplementation in the form of enriched chicken egg consumption on microvascular endothelium-dependent vasodilation, oxidative stress, and microvascular response to an acute strenuous training session (ASTS) in competitive athletes. Thirty-one male athletes were assigned to a control (n = 17) or a Nutri4 group (n = 14) who consumed three regular or enriched chicken eggs per day, respectively, for 3 weeks. Significantly enhanced endothelium-dependent responses to vascular occlusion (PORH) and iontophoresis of acetylcholine (AChID) were observed in the Nutri4 group but not in the control group after egg consumption. Formation of peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as serum concentration of 8-iso prostaglandin F2α, decreased in the Nutri4 group while remaining unchanged in controls. PORH and AChID were reduced post-ASTS compared with pre-ASTS, both before and after the diets, in both groups. However, the range of PORH responsiveness to ASTS (ΔPORH) increased after consumption of enriched eggs. These results suggest that consumption of enriched chicken eggs has a beneficial effect on microvascular endothelium-dependent vasodilation and the reduction of oxidative stress levels in competitive athletes. Also, microvascular adaptation to the ASTS was improved after consumption of Nutri4 eggs.

The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on the Lipid Profile and Cardiovascular Markers Following Downhill Running in Long-Distance Runners

Exercise-induced injury may intensify inflammatory response and reduce the cardiovascular protection mechanisms of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω 3 PUFA). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the erythrocyte content of fatty acids (ω 3 and ω 6), the levels of cardiac damage markers (CKMB, hsTnT, H - FABP), the concentration of inflammation mediators (IL-6, TNF α) in long distance runners supplemented with ω 3 PUFA. Twenty-four male long distance runners, who were randomly assigned to a placebo group (GrP) or a group supplemented (GrSuppl) with a daily dose of 3,000 mg of ω 3 PUFA for three weeks, participated in the study. Participants performed a downhill running exercise test. Blood samples were collected at rest and after the exercise protocol to analyse the levels of cardiac markers and inflammatory cytokines. The erythrocyte membrane content of EPA and DHA in the GrSuppl at the 3rd week of supplementation was significantly higher than at the baseline (p < 0.001). The erythrocyte membrane content of ω 3 PUFA in the GrSuppl was significantly higher at the completion of supplementation (p < 0.001). Supplementation with ω 3 PUFA improved blood lipid profiles and reduced the concentration of inflammation mediators measured after the eccentric exercise tests. The increased ω 3 PUFA content in the erythrocyte membrane and lower blood concentrations of cardiac damage markers and inflammation mediators in distance runners supplemented for three weeks with ω 3 PUFA suggest that the cardiovascular function has been improved.

Consumption of Nutritionally Enriched Hen Eggs Enhances Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation via Cyclooxygenase Metabolites in Healthy Young People-A Randomized Study

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of enriched hen egg consumption on endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) and the role of cyclooxygenases in EDV in the microcirculation of young healthy individuals. This study hypothesizes that Nutri4 eggs will improve endothelial function, which will be manifested by changes in microcirculatory flow measured by a laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) during reactive hyperemia in response to vascular occlusion, in which n-3 PUFA plays an important role as well as its degradation pathway by cyclooxygenases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants consumed three eggs per day for three weeks: The control group (CTRL, n = 14) consumed regular hen eggs (approximately 0.330 mg of lutein, 1.785 mg of vitamin E, 0.054 mg of selenium and 438 mg of n-3 PUFAs daily) and Nutri4 group (n = 20) consumed enriched eggs (approximately 1.85 mg of lutein, 0.06 mg of selenium, 3.29 mg of vitamin E, and 1026 mg of n-3 PUFAs daily). Skin microvascular blood flow in response to EDV (post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) and iontophoresis of acetylcholine (AChID)) and sodium nitroprusside (SNPID; endothelium-independent) was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry before and after dietary protocol and in a separate group of participants who were administered perorally 100 mg of indomethacin before microvascular response assessment. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, serum lipid, and liver enzymes, anthropometric measurements, protein expression of cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), neuronal nitric oxide synthases (nNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS), and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOS) were measured before and after dietary protocol.

RESULTS

PORH and AChID were significantly enhanced, and SNPID remained unchanged in the Nutri4 group, while none was changed in the CTRL following a respective diet. PORH decreased after administration of indomethacin in Nutri4 after dietary protocol. Protein expression of COX-2 was significantly higher in the Nutri4 group compared to the CTRL after the dietary protocol.

CONCLUSION

Consumption of enriched eggs improves microvascular EDV in healthy young subjects. Results suggest an element of n-3 PUFAs metabolites via the cyclooxygenases pathway in enhanced reactive hyperemia.