Antioxidants in laying hen eggs

膳食抗氧化剂在预防慢性病和/或促进公众健康方面的重要性已在文献中得到了很好的证明。酪氨酸和色氨酸这两种芳香族氨基酸最近首次被鉴定为蛋黄中的主要抗氧化剂。该项目的总体目标是进一步证实鸡蛋是丰富的抗氧化剂来源。在该项目中，将建立鸡蛋中抗氧化剂的提取和分析方案。烹饪方法和模拟胃肠道消化对命运和抗氧化活性的影响将被确定。作为一种富含蛋白质的食品，煮熟的鸡蛋在消化过程中会产生抗氧化性氨基酸和多肽，从而进一步提高鸡蛋的抗氧化活性。加拿大蛋业为加拿大经济贡献了大约14亿美元，但很容易受到消费者对鸡蛋态度和看法变化的影响。食用鸡蛋等高胆固醇食物曾被认为是心血管疾病的可能诱因；该项目的结果将证实，鸡蛋是饮食中可能对心血管疾病有益的抗氧化剂的替代来源。因此，该项目的结果将对目前明确界定的鸡蛋营养知识产生重大影响，甚至可能引起鸡蛋营养评价的范式变化。确定鸡蛋是饮食中丰富的抗氧化剂来源的证据将加强鸡蛋的积极形象，也可被蛋业(例如加拿大的蛋农)用来教育消费者下蛋对健康的好处，从而可能促进食用鸡蛋的消费，对可持续发展的加拿大蛋业具有深远的好处。拟议的项目将支持盈利和创新的加拿大蛋业，使其能够抓住任何机会响应市场需求，并为加拿大人的健康和福祉做出贡献。

The significance of dietary antioxidants in prevention of chronic diseases and/or promotion of general public health has been well documented in literature. Two aromatic amino acids, tyrosine and tryptophan, were recently characterized for the first time as the major antioxidants in egg yolk. The overall objective of the project is to further establish evidence that eggs are a rich source of antioxidants. In the project, a protocol for extraction and analysis of antioxidants in eggs will be established. Effect of cooking methods and mimic gastrointestinal digestion on the fate and antioxidant activity will be determined. As a protein rich food commodity, antioxidant amino acids and peptides may be generated during gastrointestinal digestion of cooked eggs and therefore further enhances the antioxidant activity of eggs. The Canadian egg industry contributes approximately $1.4 billion into the economy, but is vulnerable to shifts in consumer attitudes and perceptions about eggs. Consumption of cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs was once indicated as a possible causing factor for cardiovascular diseases; results from the project will establish evidence that eggs are an alternative source of dietary antioxidants that may have benefits for cardiovascular diseases. Results from the project therefore will have a significant impact on the current well-defined knowledge on egg nutrition and might even give rise to a paradigm change in the nutritional evaluation of eggs. Establishing evidence that eggs are a rich source of dietary antioxidants would reinforce the positive image of eggs and can also be used by the egg industry (e.g. Egg Farmers of Canada) to educate consumers about the health benefits of laying hen eggs, thus might promote the consumption of table eggs with far-reaching benefits for a sustainably growing Canadian egg industry. The proposed project will support a profitable and innovative Canadian egg industry that is able to seize any opportunity in responding to market demands and contributes to the health and wellbeing of Canadians.