Effect of an egg-rich diet on plasma lipids and proteins in severely burned patients

Eight severely burned young patients were maintained on an oral hyperalimentation regimen of about 7,000 calories--including 314 proteins, 600 g carbohydrates and 336 g fats, containing greater than 8 g cholesterol--based mainly on a daily ingestion of 35 eggs. Serum cholesterol and protein, and plasma lipoprotein levels were measured during period of 30 days on the diet. The mean serum cholesterol level prior to the egg-rich diet was low [108 +/- 42 (SD) mg/dl] and it remained within the normal range during the study. The initial mean serum total protein level of 4.1 +/- 0.5 (SD) rose to 6.5 +/- 0.7 g/dl by the 19th day and stayed high throughout the remainder of the study. Plasma lipoprotein levels, assessed by nephelometry and reported as concentrations of large, medium and small particles, were not increased. It is assumed that the high demand for energy during recovery from burns prevented abnormal rises in plasma lipid levels on fat-rich diet.