Egg and egg-derived foods: effects on human health and use as functional foods

Nutrients. 2015 Jan 20;7(1):706-29. doi: 10.3390/nu7010706.

Abstract

Eggs are sources of protein, fats and micronutrients that play an important role in basic nutrition. However, eggs are traditionally associated with adverse factors in human health, mainly due to their cholesterol content. Nowadays, however, it is known that the response of cholesterol in human serum levels to dietary cholesterol consumption depends on several factors, such as ethnicity, genetic makeup, hormonal factors and the nutritional status of the consumer. Additionally, in recent decades, there has been an increasing demand for functional foods, which is expected to continue to increase in the future, owing to their capacity to decrease the risks of some diseases and socio-demographic factors such as the increase in life expectancy. This work offers a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages of egg consumption and the potential market of functional eggs, and it explores the possibilities of the development of functional eggs by technological methods.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cholesterol, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / blood
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Eggs*
  • Energy Intake
  • Fatty Acids / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Food Handling
  • Functional Food*
  • Humans
  • Micronutrients / administration & dosage
  • Nutritional Status
  • Recommended Dietary Allowances

Substances

  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Fats
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Micronutrients