Achieving Nutritional Adequacy Of Vitamin K With An Egg/Plant-Based Food Pairing

Study Summary

Malnutrition of the fat-soluble nutrient vitamin K (phylloquinone; PQ) is problematic. Since PQ is rich in plant foods (e.g. spinach) that are mostly absent of accessible lipid, dietary patterns that can potentiate PQ bioavailability by pairing vegetables with lipid-rich foods have been emphasized. The purpose of this study is to use deuterium-labeled spinach (containing stable isotopes of PQ) to validate eggs as a dietary tool to improve PQ bioavailability directly from a model plant food, and hence achieve nutrient adequacy. It is expected that compared with deuterium-labeled spinach alone, co-ingestion of eggs will increase plasma bioavailability of spinach-derived deuterium-labeled PQ without affecting time to maximal concentrations or half-lives. Further, phospholipid-rich egg yolk lipid will enhance nutrient bioavailability compared with vegetable oil. The outcomes will serve as the foundation for easy-to-implement message of public health importance in support of whole eggs and egg whites as part of a plant-based dietary pattern.

Primary Outcome

Area under the curve of deuterium-labeled phylloquinone

Interventions

• OTHER Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 h
• OTHER One hard-boiled egg at 0 h
• OTHER Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 h
• OTHER Three hard-boiled eggs at 0 h
• OTHER One hard-boiled egg at 3 h