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Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a common health concern during winter. Eggs are one of the few rich dietary sources of vitamin D, containing cholecalciferol (vitamin D-3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 [25(OH)D3], with the latter reported to be 5 times more potent at increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations, the major circulating form of vitamin D. However, whether there is an optimal dose of eggs to increase or maintain 25(OH)D concentrations during wintertime is not known., Objectives: To evaluate the dose-response effect of consuming 2, 7, or 12 commercially available eggs per week on serum 25(OH)D concentrations during the autumn-winter months in young adults. Secondary aims were to investigate changes in serum lipids, and the feasibility (adherence) and acceptability to consuming the eggs., Methods: In a 12-wk randomized controlled trial, 51 adults aged 25-40 y were randomly assigned to consume 2 eggs/wk (control, n = 17), 7 eggs/wk (n = 17), or 12 eggs/wk (n = 17). Change in serum 25(OH)D was the primary outcome as assessed by LC/MS/MS. Serum lipids were assessed using standard techniques, and acceptability to consuming the eggs was assessed via a questionnaire., Results: Forty-two (82%) participants completed the study. Mean adherence to the eggs was 83% for controls, 86% for 7 eggs/wk, and 83% for 12 eggs/wk. Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations did not change significantly in either the 7-eggs/wk (-8.3 nmol/L; 95% CI: -17.0, 0.4 nmol/L) or 12-eggs/wk (-7.2 nmol/L; 95% CI: -18.6, 4.3 nmol/L) groups, but decreased by 28.6 nmol/L (95% CI: -38.1, -18.9 nmol/L) in controls, which led to a significant (P = 0.003) between-group difference for the change after 12 wk. Serum lipids did not differ between the groups, and acceptability profiles to consuming the eggs were positive and similar for all 3 groups., Conclusions: Consuming 7 commercially available eggs per week for 12 wk was effective for attenuating the wintertime decline in circulating vitamin D concentrations in young Australian adults, with 12 eggs/wk not providing any additional benefits., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Background: Multinutrient protein-enriched supplements are promoted to augment the effects of exercise on muscle mass and strength, but their effectiveness in middle-aged women, or whether there are any additional benefits to physical function, remains uncertain., Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether a multinutrient-fortified milk drink (MFMD) could enhance the effects of exercise on functional muscle power (stair climbing) in middle-aged women. Secondary aims were to evaluate the intervention effects on physical function, muscle strength, lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), bone mineral content (BMC), muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), muscle density, balance, flexibility, aerobic fitness, inflammation, oxidative stress, bone and cartilage turnover, blood pressure, and blood lipids., Methods: In this 4-mo, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, 244 women (45-65 y) participated in a multimodal resistance-type exercise program 3 d/wk, with random allocation to a twice-daily MFMD containing added protein, vitamin D, calcium, milk fat globule membrane (phospholipids and other bioactives), and other micronutrients (Ex + MFMD, n = 123) or an energy-matched placebo (Ex + placebo, n = 121)., Results: A total of 216 women (89%) completed the study. After 4 mo, both groups experienced similar 3.6%-4.3% improvements in the primary outcomes of fast-pace 5- and 10-step stair ascent power. In contrast, Ex + MFMD experienced greater improvements in 5-step regular-pace stair descent time [net difference (95% CI): -0.09 s (-0.18, 0.00 s), P = 0.045], countermovement jump height [0.5 cm (0.04, 1.0 cm), P = 0.038], total body LM [0.3 kg (0.04, 0.60 kg), P = 0.020], FM [-0.6 kg (-1.0, -0.2 kg), P = 0.004], BMC [0.4% (0.1%, 0.6%), P = 0.020], muscle CSA [thigh: 1.8% (0.6%, 2.9%), P = 0.003; lower leg: 0.9% (0.3%, 1.6%), P = 0.005], balance eyes closed [3.3 s (1.1, 5.4 s), P = 0.005], 2-min step performance [8 steps (3, 12 steps), P = 0.003], and sit-and-reach flexibility [1.4 cm (0.6, 2.2 cm), P = 0.026]. MFMD did not enhance the effects of exercise on any measures of muscle strength, gait speed, dynamic balance, reaction time, or blood lipids, and there was no effect of either intervention on blood pressure, markers of inflammation, or cartilage turnover. Ex + placebo had a greater improvement in the oxidative stress marker protein carbonyls (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: In middle-aged women, daily consumption of an MFMD did not enhance the effects of a multimodal exercise program on the primary outcome of stair climbing ascent power, but did elicit greater improvements in multiple secondary outcomes including various other measures of functional performance, LM, muscle size, FM, balance, aerobic capacity, flexibility, and bone metabolism.This trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au as ACTRN12617000383369., (Copyright © The Author(s) on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition 2020.)