Study debunks egg consumption, diabetes and CVD link
Since the 1970s, U.S. dietary recommendations have advised limiting egg intake to 2–4 a week for the healthy population and even less for people diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes.
Since the 1970s, U.S. dietary recommendations have advised limiting egg intake to 2–4 a week for the healthy population and even less for people diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that there isn’t a link between higher egg consumption and cholesterol imbalance, elevated risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, or type 2 diabetes.
The researchers set out to analyze human studies from the past 10 years on the topic of egg consumption and CVD and type 2 diabetes risk. They found that there is little or no consistency between egg consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes in studies with follow-ups as long as seven years. It was also shown that, in healthy people and people with type 2 diabetes, no direct associations exist between egg consumption and coronary artery calcium, a marker for the development of atherosclerosis.
In terms of the impact of eggs on cholesterol levels, a few well-designed studies found no adverse effects of a high (one to three eggs daily) versus low egg consumption for up to one year among healthy adults and those with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. There is sometimes a higher increase of total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, but this is almost always accompanied by an increase in protective HDL cholesterol which tends to persist over time while triglycerides stay low and total and LDL cholesterol stop rising.
The researchers concluded that “dietary patterns, physical activity, and genetics affect the predisposition of CVD and type 2 diabetes more than a single food item, such as eggs.” They went on to write that “up to seven eggs per week can safely be consumed, but in patients with established CVD or type 2 diabetes only with special emphasis on a healthy lifestyle.”