Egg enrichment with vitamins and trace minerals

The vitamin and trace mineral enrichment of eggs can be chieved by manipulating the diet of laying hens. Eggs enriched with certain trace minerals, vitamins and a variety of bioactive substances can be an excellent source of these substances in human diets. Several studies have confi rmed that it is possible to produce novel eggs with an enhanced level of some important trace minerals (in particular Se, I, Fe and Zn) and vitamins, in particular fat-soluble ones (vitamin E, A and D), but also some water-soluble ones (especially vitamin B12 and folate). This review includes a description of the most relevant aspects of these compounds and special attention is paid to the different research results related to vitamin and trace mineral enrichment of eggs through nutrition. The vitamin and trace mineral levels reached in standard and enriched eggs are compared.