Are mice born normally with an egg-only diet?

Abstract

Chicken eggs (egg) contain high amounts of important proteins and fat with a very low amount of 2 carbohydrates, and also contain all vitamins and minerals needed for the chick to develop. We mated 8-week-old mice consuming an egg-only diet, and examined whether mice got pregnant and mice gave birth. Then we continued to raise newborn mice only consuming an egg-only diet compared to normal chew diet. We found that the rate of pregnancy of the mice consuming an egg-only diet was not different from that of the mice consuming normal chew diet. Further, we found that the number of pupus born from the mother consuming only eggs was not different from that of the mother consuming normal chew diet. However, the newborn mice from the mother fed only eggs did not grow healthy when they consume egg-only diet. Only few mice were alive at one month after birth. Then we change the diet just before or just after birth from egg only diet to normal chew diet and we found that both group grew healthy more than one month. These results indicate that mice are born healthy only with egg only diet.

Hen egg only diets support healthy aging in adult mice

“…Thus the egg-only diet is similar to KD, in that both include very little carbohydrate but is distinctly different in its fat and protein content. Our data revealed a steady relationship between the weight of our ND and egg only mice (Figure 1b) (Isobe & Nishio, 2020), which is significantly different from the pattern in mice fed a KD. KD-fed mice develop a distinct metabolic state characterised by weight loss and increased energy expenditure (Douris et al, 2017), while the appearance and activity of our egg-only mice at 20 months of age were similar to those of the ND control.…”

“…Taken together this data suggested that mice fed only eggs aged normally when compared to ND mice, furthermore, we wanted to evaluate the effects of these diets on reproductive and pup health. To this end we examined the pups nursed by the egg‐only mice and revealed that while these animals could fall pregnant and deliver their pups (Isobe & Nishio, 2020), there were significant changes in the pup's liver metabolism at 2 and 4 weeks of age. It is worth noting that both the pregnant and nursing mice in the egg only group still presented with normal serum glucose levels (Isobe & Nishio, 2020), and that 1‐ and 2‐week old pups were able to obtain decent nutrition from the mother's milk, and then from eggs themselves for 3 weeks.…”

“…Our previous report showed that the serum glucose levels of pregnant mothers fed egg-only diets as well as nursing mothers presented with normal glucose levels (Isobe & Nishio, 2020).…”

“…Some dietary restriction has benefit for adult mice healthy aging, however, it may become harmful to pups (Davis et al, 2016). Recently, we showed that egg‐only mice can become pregnant and beat children (Isobe & Nishio, 2020). Given this we designed this study to determine whether egg‐only consumption may be beneficial for the growth of young mice and aid in healthy aging.…”

“…Recently, we showed that egg-only mice can become pregnant and beat children (Isobe & Nishio, 2020). Given this we designed this study to determine whether egg-only consumption may be beneficial for the growth of young mice and aid in healthy aging.…”