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Nutritional RequirementsNCT04287816

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

A study testing Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 h, One hard-boiled egg at 0 h and Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 h in people with Nutritional Requirements, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Malnutrition of the fat-soluble nutrient vitamin E (α-tocopherol; αT) is problematic. Since αT is rich in plant foods (e.g. spinach) that are mostly absent of accessible lipid, dietary patterns that can potentiate αT bioavailability by pairing vegetables with lipid-rich foods have been emphasized. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Nutritional Requirements
What is being tested?
Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 h, One hard-boiled egg at 0 h and Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 h
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
8 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jun 2021to 15 Jul 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Body Mass Index (BMI) = 19-25 kg/m2
  • Normolipidemic (total cholesterol <240 mg/dL; triglyceride <150 mg/dL)
  • Fasting glucose <100 mg/dL
  • Normal hematocrit level (41%-50% for men and 36%-48% for women)
  • Normal hemoglobin level (13.5-17.5 g/dL for men and 12.0-15.5 g/dL for women)
  • No use of dietary supplements for >1 month
Show all 9Show fewer
  • No use of medications that affect lipid or glucose metabolism
  • Non-smoker
  • No history of gastrointestinal disorders

Who cannot join

  • Egg allergy
  • Alcohol intake > 2 drinks per day
  • Aerobic activity >7 h/wk
  • Body mass change >2 kg in the past 1 month
  • Women who are pregnant, lactating, or initiated or changed birth control in the past 3 month
  • Vegetarian

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210

Other trials in United States

About this study

Malnutrition of the fat-soluble nutrient vitamin E (α-tocopherol; αT) is problematic. Since αT is rich in plant foods (e.g. spinach) that are mostly absent of accessible lipid, dietary patterns that can potentiate αT 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 αT) to validate eggs as a dietary tool to improve αT 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 dose- and time-dependently increase plasma bioavailability of spinach-derived deuterium-labeled αT without affecting time to maximal concentrations or half-lives. Further, phospholipid-rich egg yolk lipid will enhance nutrient bioavailability compared with vegetable oil. The outcome will therefore support an egg-based food pairing that can enhance the health benefits of plant-centric dietary patterns.

Read the detailed description

In the US, 92-96% of men and women do not meet recommended intakes for αT. Dietary recommendations strongly encourage a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to meet dietary αT requirements. However, αT bioavailability from most plant foods is quite poor, thereby emphasizing a need for effective food pairings that can enhance the absorption and promote adequate status of these health-promoting nutrients. The objective of this application is to use deuterium-labeled spinach (containing stable isotopes of αT) to validate eggs as a dietary tool to improve αT bioavailability directly from a model plant food, and hence achieve nutrient adequacy. Our hypothesis is that the bioavailability of αT from deuterium-labeled spinach will be potentiated by egg intake in a dose-dependent manner by increasing their secretion in intestinal-derived chylomicrons. Furthermore, phospholipid-rich whole eggs will enhance spinach-derived αT bioavailability compared with vegetable oil, and will be most functionally responsible for the benefits of eggs to enhance nutrient absorption. Additionally, egg whites will more greatly promote nutrient bioaccessibility compared with spinach alone.

To test this, our specific aim is to assess egg-mediated improvements in αT bioavailability by conducting a cross-over pharmacokinetic study in healthy men and women. In Study Arms 1-4, participants will ingest deuterium-labeled spinach (containing 5 mg αT) with 0, 1, 2, or 3 hardboiled eggs (containing 0, 4.8, 9.6, or 14.4 g total fat, respectively). In Study Arm 5, participants will ingest spinach with two egg whites. In Study Arm 6, participants will ingest spinach with 9.6 grams of vegetable oil. In Study Arm 5, participants will ingest spinach alone followed by 1 egg 3-hours later. In Study Arm 7, participants will ingest spinach with 1 egg followed by another egg 3-hours later. In Study Arm 8, participants will ingest spinach with 1 egg followed by another egg 3-hours later. Thus, Study Arms 1-6 will test the dose-dependent and food matrix effects of eggs on αT bioavailability, and study Arms 7-8 will test the meal timing effects of eggs on αT bioavailability. Eucaloric diets will be controlled for αT intakes for 3 d prior to and during the initial 24 h of each trial to minimize heterogeneity of pharmacokinetic responses. Spinach-derived deuterium-labeled αT will be measured in plasma and isolated chylomicrons collected at timed intervals from 0-72 h post-meal ingestion, and biomarkers of antioxidant status and oxidative distress will be assessed at baseline (0 h) of each trial. Outcomes from this study are expected to demonstrate a dose- and time-dependent function of eggs to increase deuterium-labeled αT bioavailability (based on area under the curve (AUC) 0-72 h, Cmax, and % estimated absorption).

The rationale for this study is that, by establishing the efficacy of eggs to potentiate plant-derived fat-soluble nutrient bioavailability, a strong framework will exist for an easily implementable health-promoting food pairing strategy to overcome malnutrition of αT.

Being tested
Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 h, One hard-boiled egg at 0 h, Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 h, Three hard-boiled eggs at 0 h, One hard-boiled egg at 3 h
Keywords
Vitamin E, Egg, Spinach

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 hOther

    No eggs will be consumed on test day along with spinach consumption

  • One hard-boiled egg at 0 hOther

    One egg will be consumed on test day along with spinach consumption

  • Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 hOther

    Two eggs will be consumed on test day along with spinach consumption

  • Three hard-boiled eggs at 0 hOther

    Three eggs will be consumed on test day along with spinach consumption

  • One hard-boiled egg at 3 hOther

    One egg will be consumed on test day three hours after spinach consumption

  • One hard-boiled egg at 0 h + One hard-boiled egg at 3 hOther

    Two eggs will be consumed on test day: one along with spinach consumption and the other one three hours after spinach consumption

  • Two egg whites at 0 hOther

    Two egg whites will be consumed on test day along with spinach consumption

  • Vegetable oil at 0 hOther

    9.6 grams of Vegetable oil will be consumed on test day along with spinach consumption

Study groups in NCT04287816
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 hExperimentalNo eggs will be consumed on the test day. Deuterium-labeled spinach containing 5 mg αT will be ingested alone prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial.
Receives: Other: Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 h
One hard-boiled egg at 0 hExperimentalDeuterium-labeled spinach containing 5 mg αT will be ingested along with 1 hard-boiled egg prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial.
Receives: Other: One hard-boiled egg at 0 h
Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 hExperimentalDeuterium-labeled spinach containing 5mg αT will be ingested along with 2 hard-boiled eggs prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial.
Receives: Other: Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 h
Three hard-boiled eggs at 0 hExperimentalDeuterium-labeled spinach containing 5 mg αT will be ingested along with 3 hard-boiled eggs prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial.
Receives: Other: Three hard-boiled eggs at 0 h
One hard-boiled egg at 3 hExperimentalDeuterium-labeled spinach containing 5 mg αT will be ingested alone at 0 h prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial followed by 1 hard-boiled egg 3 hours after spinach consumption.
Receives: Other: One hard-boiled egg at 3 h
One hard-boiled egg at 0 h + One hard-boiled egg at 3 hExperimentalDeuterium-labeled spinach containing 5 mg αT will be ingested along with 1 hard-boiled egg at 0 h prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial followed by 1 egg 3 hours after spinach consumption.
Receives: Other: One hard-boiled egg at 0 h + One hard-boiled egg at 3 h
Two egg whites at 0 hExperimentalDeuterium-labeled spinach containing 5 mg αT will be ingested along with two egg whites prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial.
Receives: Other: Two egg whites at 0 h
Vegetable oil at 0 hExperimentalDeuterium-labeled spinach containing 5 mg αT will be ingested along with 9.6 grams of vegetable oil prior to the 72-h pharmacokinetics trial.
Receives: Other: Vegetable oil at 0 h

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Vitamin E Area Under the Curve (0-72 h)

    Area under the concentration-time curve of plasma deuterium-labeled alpha-tocopherol over 72 hours post ingestion.

    Measured: 0, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 hours post-ingestion of spinach

  2. Vitamin E Cmax

    Maximum plasma concentration of deuterium-labeled alpha-tocopherol

    Measured: 0-72 hours post-ingestion of spinach

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Vitamin E Tmax (hr)

    Time to reach maximum plasma concentration of deuterium-labeled alpha-tocopherol

    Measured: 0-72 hours post-ingestion of spinach

  2. Half-Life (hr)

    The time required for the plasma concentration of vitamin E to decrease by 50%.

    Measured: 0-72 hours post-ingestion of spinach

  3. Estimated Absorption (%Dose) of Vitamin E

    Absorption of deuterium-labeled alpha-tocopherol

    Measured: 0-72 hours post-ingestion of spinach

  4. Chylomicron Vitamin E

    Deuterium-labeled alpha-tocopherol concentration in chylomicron

    Measured: 0, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12 hours post-ingestion of spinach

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Feb 2020
  2. Study start1 Jun 2021
  3. Primary completion15 Jul 2024
  4. Study completion15 Jul 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
8 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04287816
Sponsor's protocol ID
2019H0504-A
Status last verified
Nov 2025
First submitted
22 Feb 2020
Last updated
2 Dec 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Rezaei S, Cao S, Zeng M, Antonius ML, Pierson JT, Bond AH, McHenry AQ, Blakeslee JJ, Bruno RS. Co-Ingestion Timing, Rather than Food Matrix or Dose, Determines alpha-Tocopherol Bioavailability from Intrinsically Labeled Spinach in Healthy Adults: A Crossover Pharmacokinetic Study. Antioxidants (Basel). 2026 Aug 28;15(9):1076. doi: 10.3390/antiox15091076.

    PubMed 42792114

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Zero hard-boiled egg at 0 h, One hard-boiled egg at 0 h and Two hard-boiled eggs at 0 h in people with Nutritional Requirements, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 2 Dec 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Vitamin E Area Under the Curve (0-72 h) (time frame: 0, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 hours post-ingestion of spinach). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04287816, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Dec 2025.

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