Daily Inclusion of Eggs in a Heart-Healthful Dietary Pattern in Hyperlipidemic Adults

This randomized, cross‐over design, controlled trial will assess the effects of 8 weeks of daily inclusion of 2 whole eggs in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, compared with their exclusion, on cardio‐metabolic risk markers, and diet quality in hyperlipidemic adults. Participants will be randomized to receive 1 of 2 treatment sequence permutations (i.e., DASH eating plan with eggs and DASH eating plan without eggs), with an 8‐week washout period between treatment assignments. After randomization, participants will undergo a 4‐week run‐in period of a DASH eating plan without egg products before initiating the first of 2 treatment phases in their randomly‐assigned sequence permutation. Specific Aims 1. To assess the effects of the inclusion of 2 whole eggs/day for 8 weeks in a DASH eating plan, as compared with their exclusion, on endothelial function measured as flow‐mediated dilatation and on LDL cholesterol in hyperlipidemic adults. 2. To determine the effects of the inclusion of 2 whole eggs/day in the context of a DASH eating plan, as compared with their exclusion, on cardio‐metabolic risk factors and diet quality in adults with hyperlipidemia over a period of 8 weeks.