Tier 2 — strong

Whole egg consumption increases plasma choline and betaine without affecting TMAO levels or gut microbiome in overweight postmenopausal women

Chenghao Zhu, Lisa Sawrey-Kubicek, Allison S Bardagjy, Hannah Houts, Xinyu Tang, Romina Sacchi, Jody M Randolph, Francene M Steinberg, Angela M Zivkovic
Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) 2020 78:36-41

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 32464420
DOI
10.1016/j.nutres.2020.04.002
Funding
Funding was not specified in the indexed record or accessible funding metadata.
Competing interests
A competing-interest declaration was not available in the indexed record or accessible disclosure metadata.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized crossover controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample20 overweight postmenopausal women
InterventionTwo whole eggs/day versus a yolk-free substitute
Duration4 weeks per treatment; 4-week washout
EndpointsBetaine; TMAO; Gut microbiome

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2020, this source examined food sources, absorption and nutrient metabolism. Design: Randomized crossover controlled trial. Sample/model: 20 overweight postmenopausal women. The exposure or intervention was Two whole eggs/day versus a yolk-free substitute. Follow-up or treatment period: 4 weeks per treatment; 4-week washout.

Whole eggs increased plasma choline and betaine without a significant TMAO or overall microbiome change.

Small food intervention; results cannot be transferred directly to isolated betaine or high-dose choline supplements.

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Key findings

  • Whole eggs increased plasma choline and betaine without a significant TMAO or overall microbiome change.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Betaine; TMAO; Gut microbiome.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Two whole eggs/day versus a yolk-free substitute; 4 weeks per treatment; 4-week washout.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Small food intervention; results cannot be transferred directly to isolated betaine or high-dose choline supplements.
  • An individual controlled trial must be interpreted alongside its comparator, sample size, endpoint selection and independent replication. It does not validate a different commercial formulation or a general longevity claim.
  • Source basis: Indexed abstract and bibliographic data. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology