The Study
Impact of High-Dose Supplemental Paprika Extract Feeding on Egg Storage and Biochemical Parameters in Laying Hens
This study shows that hens fed paprika extract had darker egg yolks and different cholesterol levels, especially in Silky Fowl. It doesn’t prove that paprika caused these changes for sure, but it found a strong link. Think of it like noticing ice cream sales and sunburns both go up in summer — they’re linked, but you can’t say one causes the other without more proof.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists fed paprika to two types of hens to see how it changes egg color and their health. They also stored the eggs to see how long the color lasts.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 514 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The results show paprika can make eggs look better and may improve hen health, especially in certain breeds.
- 2Keeping eggs cold helps keep their color.
- 3Paprika made egg yolks more orange.
- 4Silky Fowl hens had healthier blood fats when eating paprika—good cholesterol went up and bad fats down.
- 5Eggs kept at room temperature lost color in 3 weeks, but stayed colorful in the fridge.
- 6Egg whites became less acidic over time.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI
Year
2024
Authors
Sadao Kojima
Related Content
Claims (6)
Farmers add paprika and marigold to chicken food to make egg yolks look more orange because people think those eggs are healthier—even if they're not.
Giving older laying hens paprika extract in their food makes their egg yolks more colorful, especially in Rhode Island Reds — they respond more than Silky Fowl hens when given a higher dose.
Feeding Silky Fowl hens a paprika supplement for a month raises their 'good' cholesterol and improves their overall cholesterol balance, but the same doesn’t happen in Rhode Island Red hens — so the effect depends on the chicken breed.
If you store eggs from hens fed paprika at room temperature for three weeks, their yolks lose color and important nutrients faster than if you keep them in the fridge.
When eggs are stored at room temperature for three weeks, the white part becomes more alkaline over time, especially in one chicken breed compared to another, and the difference between the breeds stays the whole time — meaning their eggs start off different and change at different rates.
Feeding Silky Fowl hens a paprika supplement for a month seems to lower their blood fat levels a lot, but the same doesn’t happen in Rhode Island Red hens — so the effect might depend on the chicken breed.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.