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Nutrient Composition

For today's consumers, eggs hold a positive perception: Eggs are okay to eat again. And that's good news ? because as those consumers become more health-conscious, they are choosing foods with minimal ingredients and fewer synthetic additives.

In fact, eggs perform multiple functions in making and processing food. And they simplify the ingredient statement.

Chemical Composition tables

1.1 Assayed Egg Nutrient Values
1.2 Egg Vitamins
1.3 Egg Minerals
1.4 Egg Lipids
1.5 Egg Amino Acids
1.6 Egg Chemistry
1.7 Eggs as Nutraceuticals

Eggs have been long regarded around the world as a beneficial ingredient for health and nutrition. Contemporary science is looking closer at the potential nutraceutical benefits of eggs.

  • Lysozyme is extracted from egg white. Lysozyme is used in eye drops and various cold remedies. Lysozyme is also utilized as a preservative for cheese.
  • Avidin from egg white has been used for affinity chromatographic columns for various analytical methods.
  • Egg yolk contains a high level of lutein which has been shown to be a factor in prevention of age-related macular degeneration in the eye.
  • Choline from egg yolk lecithin has been shown by some researchers to be a possible memory booster.
  • Eggs are utilized as a culture medium in producing several vaccines used to treat various viruses.
  • Egg yolk has been indicated to be beneficial to skin. Thus, egg yolk is added to shampoos, skin creams and other cosmetic applications.
  • Antibodies from eggs may be used to treat various viruses.
  • Egg yolk is used as a preservative for bovine spermatozoa used for artificial insemination.

1.1 Assayed EggNutrient Values -

FACT 1.1 ? According to a study conducted by Food Processing magazine and the American Egg Board, food processors prefer real eggs over alternatives. They know eggs perform multiple functions in food product formulations and keep ingredient statements short and clean.

NUTRIENTS (per 100g)

LIQUID*/ FROZEN

DRIED

WHOLE EGGS YOLK SUGARED YOLK SALTED YOLK SALTED WHOLE EGGS WHITE WHOLE EGGS YOLK STABILIZED WHITE
PROTEIN - g 12.0 15.3 13.9 14.1 11.0 9.3 48.4 33.7 84.6
MOISTURE - g 75.2 56.8 51.2 50.9 67.8 89.0 3.7 2.7 6.5
FAT - g (total lipid) 9.7 23.0 20.8 20.9 9.2 0.076 39.2 52.9 0.4
ASH - g 0.8 1.4 1.1 10.4 10.3 0.4 3.4 3.3 3.6
CARBOHYDRATE - g 2.2 3.6 13.0 3.8 1.7 1.3 5.4 7.3 4.8
CALORIES - cal 144.0 282.0 294.0 259.3 133.0 43.0 568.0 640.0 361.0
CHOLESTEROL - mg 400.0 991.0 917.0 912.0 387.0 3.3 1630.0 2307.0 20.0
American Egg Board/Covance Labortories (2006).
*Nutrient values for liquid eggs may include a small variation from frozen eggs.
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1.2 Egg Vitamins -

FACT 1.2 ? Eggs have a high nutrient density because they provide excellent protein and a wide range of vitamins and minerals in proportion to their calorie count.

VITAMINS (per 100g) LIQUID*/ FROZEN DRIED
WHOLE EGGS YOLK SUGARED YOLK SALTED YOLK SALTED WHOLE EGGS WHITE WHOLE EGGS YOLK STABILIZED WHITE
NIACIN - mg 0.10 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.08 0.09 0.34 0.08 0.77
RIBOFLAVIN - mg 0.52 0.56 0.52 0.43 0.44 0.42 1.98 1.26 3.71
B12 - mcg 1.16 1.64 1.64 1.61 1.21 <0.12 3.39 6.02 0.18
PANTOTHENIC ACID -mg 1.57 3.44 3.29 3.17 1.26 0.15 5.55 9.06 0.67
VITAMIN A - IU 488 1330 1433 1043 497 <100 500 973 <100
THIAMIN - mg 0.07 0.22 0.14 0.14 0.06 <0.01 0.18 0.39 <0.05
PYRIDOXINE (B6) - mg 0.197 0.442 0.398 0.402 0.226 <0.007 0.494 0.842 0.04
FOLIC ACID - mcg 0.087 0.151 0.174 0.112 0.0691 0.0091 0.119 0.209 0.022
VITAMIN E - IU 1.07 3.34 3.35 3.40 1.20 <0.50 3.24 7.17 <0.500
VITAMIN D - IU <60 87.7 123.0 126.0 56.5 <60 125.0 75.1 <90
LUTEIN - mg 0.293 0.581 0.586 0.418 0.252 <0.02 0.572 0.737 <0.02
ZEAXANTHIN -mg 0.178 0.323 0.381 0.294 0.165 <0.02 0.263 0.396 <0.02
American Egg Board/Covance Labortories (2006).
*Nutrient values for liquid eggs may include a small variation from frozen eggs.
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1.3 Egg Minerals -

FACT 1.3 ? Many additional ingredients are required to substitute for the functionality of eggs in a recipe or formula. Contemporary consumers, however, are turned off by food labels displaying synthetic additives and unfamiliar ingredients.

MINERALS (per 100g) LIQUID*/ FROZEN DRIED
WHOLE EGGS YOLK SUGARED YOLK SALTED YOLK SALTED WHOLE EGGS WHITE WHOLE EGGS YOLK STABILIZED WHITE
CALCIUM - mg 62.6 133.0 124.0 113.0 55.0 10.1 236.0 307.0 104.0
IRON - mg 1.69 3.67 3.70 3.40 1.71 0.167 4.33 9.50 0.23
MAGNESIUM - mg 8.70 10.9 10.5 6.70 9.03 11.1 6.47 25.5 82
PHOSPHORUS - mg 193 420 404 414 186 13.1 629 1040 104
POTASSIUM - mg 135 121 105 111 128 169 540 264 884
SODIUM - mg 130 70.9 70.0 3487 3663 169 480 163 1014
ZINC - mg 1.32 3.17 3.06 2.87 1.30 0.070 3.15 7.73 0.135
COPPER - mg <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 0.121 0.06 0.032 0.203 <0.05 0.128
MANGANESE - mg 0.032 0.078 0.080 0.065 0.03 <0.012 0.058 0.185 <0.03
SELENIUM** - mg 0.037 0.0564 0.0535 0.0569 0.030 0.0095 0.165 0.139 0.226
American Egg Board/Covance Labortories (2006).
*Nutrient values for liquid eggs may include a small variation from frozen eggs.
** Selenium may vary in different areas of the U.S.
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1.4 Egg Lipids -

FACT 1.4 ? Eggs contain an insignificant amount of trans fat. Similar to some fats and oils, eggs impart a rich texture, mouthfeel, flavor, and color to prepared foods.

LIPIDS (per 100g) LIQUID*/ FROZEN DRIED
WHOLE EGGS YOLK SUGARED YOLK SALTED YOLK SALTED WHOLE EGGS WHITE WHOLE EGGS YOLK STABILIZED WHITE
SATURATED, TOTAL - g 3.34 7.92 7.11 7.15 3.23 - 13.50 18.13 -
14:0 MYRISTIC 0.046 0.112 0.11 0.08 0.04 - 0.14 0.20 -
16:0 PALMITIC 2.52 6.02 5.38 5.44 2.41 - 10.2 13.90 -
18:0 STEARIC 0.914 2.10 1.90 1.92 0.86 - 3.66 4.75 -
MONOUNSATURATED TOTAL - g 4.22 9.79 8.88 9.06 3.97 - 17.10 23.7 -
16:1 PALMITOLEIC 0.257 0.625 0.55 0.57 0.27 - 0.77 1.60 -
18:1 OLEIC 4.11 9.50 8.63 8.82 3.86 - 16.9 22.90 -
20:1 EICOSENOIC 0.030 0.07 0.06 0.07 0.03 - 0.14 0.18 -
POLYUNSATURATED TOTAL - g 1.71 4.24 3.86 3.74 1.57 - 6.86 8.76 -
18:2 LINOLEIC 1.47 3.67 3.30 3.21 1.38 - 5.96 7.56 -
18.3 LINOLINIC 0.036 0.098 0.09 0.09 0.03 - 0.12 0.19 -
18:4 MOROCTIC - - - - - - - - -
20:4 ARACHODPNIC 0.192 0.448 0.42 0.41 0.18 - 0.73 0.94 -
20:5 TIMNODONIC (EPA) <0.005 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.005 - <0.01 <0.01 -
22:6 DOCOSAHEXAENOIC 0.054 0.135 0.13 0.12 0.05 - 0.19 0.25 -
TRANS FAT - g 0.11 0.24 0.18 0.16 0.09 0.02 0.35 0.63 <0.004
American Egg Board/Covance Labortories (2006).
*Nutrient values for liquid eggs may include a small variation from frozen eggs.
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1.5 Egg Amino Acids -

FACT 1.5 ? Whole eggs and egg whites in particular, are frequently used in product formulations to help create smooth and creamy finished products. In addition to their own ability to aid browning, alkaline eggs can improve browning of acidic products - which ordinarily will not brown - by reducing their acidity.

AMINO ACIDS (per 100g) LIQUID*/ FROZEN DRIED
WHOLE EGGS YOLK SUGARED YOLK SALTED YOLK SALTED WHOLE EGGS WHITE WHOLE EGGS YOLK STABILIZED WHITE
ALANINE - mg 700 800 703 710 607 600 2723 1757 5160
ARGININE - mg 790 1077 917 947 700 570 3090 2343 4920
ASPARTIC ACID - mg 1267 1483 1337 1333 1113 1057 5053 3320 9200
CYSTINE - mg 280 270 227 240 240 263 1077 590 2227
GLUTAMIC ACID - mg 1603 1917 1690 1697 1417 1350 6430 4277 11733
GLYCINE - mg 420 470 417 420 363 357 1633 1047 3067
HISTIDINE - mg 313 393 353 353 273 240 1210 863 2063
ISOLEUCINE - mg 643 770 697 697 560 510 2450 1707 4440
LEUCINE - mg 1080 1333 1180 1187 940 853 4177 2917 7407
LYSINE - mg 903 1167 1033 1033 793 693 3360 2477 5940
METHIONINE - mg 390 370 360 320 303 360 1503 860 3013
PHENYLALANINE  - mg 657 680 607 610 577 600 2547 1477 5163
PROLINE - mg 483 607 547 550 420 373 1843 1330 3260
SERINE - mg 957 1283 1137 1133 850 727 3797 2823 6200
THREONINE - mg 540 697 627 620 483 413 2143 1550 3653
TRYPTOPHAN - mg 187 220 190 190 227 160 780 393 1437
TYROSINE - mg 520 673 507 597 463 407 1993 1427 3437
VALINE - mg 793 897 790 793 673 667 3010 1940 5763
American Egg Board/Covance Labortories (2006).
*Nutrient values for liquid eggs may include a small variation from frozen eggs.
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1.6 Egg Chemistry -

FACT 1.6 ? Eggs are compatible in most food ingredient systems, blending without adverse reactions or difficulties.

LIQUID/DRY EGG PRODUCTS (per 100g) LIQUID*/FROZEN DRIED
WHOLE EGGS YOLK WHITE WHOLE EGGS YOLK STABILIZED WHITE
SOLIDS - g 24.80 43.20 11.00 96.3 97.3 93.5
pH - g 7.8 6.7 8.8 8.7 6.5 6.8
PROTEIN - g 12.0 15.3 9.3 48.4 33.7 84.6
LIPIDS - g 9.71 23.0 0.076 39.2 52.9 0.407
FREE GLUCOSE - g <0.10 0.2 0.3 0.3 <0.1 0
ASH - g 0.80 1.4 0.4 3.4 3.3 3.6
MOISTURE - g 75.20 56.80 89.0 3.7 2.7 6.5
American Egg Board/Covance Labortories (2006).
*Nutrient values for liquid eggs may include a small variation from frozen eggs.
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1.7 Eggs as Nutraceuticals -

FACT 1.7 ? Eggs contribute valuable nutrients, from their high-quality protein to significant levels of beneficial vitamins, antioxidants, and other important nutrients all within one single ingredient.

Sialic Acid. Shown to inhibit certain stomach infections.

Liposomes. Used as a controlled delivery mechanism for various drugs.

Immunoglobulin yolk. (IGY). An antibody found in egg yolks.

Egg Yolk Protein. (PHOSVITIN). Provides antioxidant benefits in food products.

Choline. Is important in brain development.

Yolk Lecithin. Has a high proportion of phosphatidylcholine. Egg lecithin contains 63% unsaturated fatty acids including Omega-3 acids, which have been shown to improve visual activity in infants and to improve fatty acid status.

Egg White Lysozyme. Is being marketed in pharmaceutical products and is used as a food preservative.

Shell Membrane Protein. Used to grow human skin fibroblasts experimentally for severe burns. Also being used in Japanese cosmetics.

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