Eating lots of eggs increases the risk of cardiovascular disease?

The health effects of eggs have once again become a controversial topic after scientists from Northwestern University (USA) published new research onJAMA.

"What we found was that if you eat two eggs a day, your risk of cardiovascular disease increases by 27 percent," concluded Norrina Allen, an associate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University, after looking at data from 30,000 adults over 17 years.

According toNPR, previously, studies on eggs often gave contradictory statements. However, in general, there is no clear evidence to confirm that limiting the consumption of foods rich in cholesterol will reduce the amount of LDL (bad cholesterol) that clogs blood vessels.

Nutrition experts from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health also believe that the link between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol is "very weak."

“There has been a lot of published data on this topic, and they show that moderate egg consumption, no more than one egg per day, does not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke,” said Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

To protect health, Mr. Hu recommends that everyone should eat lots of fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts.

Agreeing with Mr. Hu, Professor Thomas Sherman from Georgetown University School of Medicine shared: "I always tell my students that a high-protein breakfast is one of the best ways to fight hunger. So I hate it when they tell us not to eat eggs."

“If you're maintaining a healthy diet rich in fiber-rich foods, eggs are a welcome addition. Just don't overdo it.”

After publication, the study by Ms. Allen and her colleagues faced criticism. Some experts pointed out that this work was purely observational and therefore not convincing enough. It is possible that other lifestyle habits increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, the Northwestern University team only asked the volunteers about their diets once. Over time, their eating habits may have changed, so the initial answers were no longer accurate.

Still, Associate Professor Allen said her and her colleagues' findings point to the need for regulators to provide specific guidance on cholesterol consumption. Northwestern University plans to conduct further research on this issue in the future.