Unusual property of egg white surprised scientists

A study by the University of North Carolina has shown that egg white can stimulate the production of substances that destroy the intestinal mucosa. The results of the work are published in The ISME Journal.

In the experiment, mice were fed diets containing only one protein source: egg white, soy, yeast, or brown rice. After just one week, microbiota analysis revealed significant changes in the activity of gut microbes.

According to the study, different protein products affect the metabolism and composition of microflora in different ways. Diets based on brown rice, yeast, and egg white had particularly pronounced effects. Some of them enhanced the activity of bacteria that break down amino acids, which can affect overall health and the functioning of the "gut-brain" axis.

It was also found that complex carbohydrates (glycans) attached to proteins change how microbes produce enzymes. In mice fed egg white, a bacterium was activated that began to produce enzymes similar to those that destroy mucin - a substance that protects the intestinal walls. This may indicate potential harm of some protein diets to digestive system health.