Many people still view eggs as very high in cholesterol, and this may limit their consumption despite new advice.
- The egg is considered an almost perfect food due to its high levels of protein and various nutrients.
- Over the last few decades, there has been much debate as to whether or not eggs lead to high cholesterol and increased heart disease risk.
- Thanks to updated research, the 2015 dietary guidelines removed previously recommended limits on egg consumption over dietary cholesterol concerns, reaffirming eggs as a healthy part of the diet.
- Despite the changed dietary guidelines, a new study has found that misconceptions about eggs may still be keeping people from including them in their daily diets.
Past studies suggest that eating eggs can have a positive impact on brain health, the immune system, muscles, and eye health.
Over the last few decades, there has been much debate about whether eggs contribute to high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease because of their dietary cholesterol content.
Thanks to updated research, the 2015 dietary guidelines removed previously recommended limits on egg consumption over dietary cholesterol concerns, reaffirming eggs as a healthy part of the diet.
Despite these dietary guideline changes, a new study has found that lingering misconceptions about eggs might still prevent people from including them in their daily diets.
According to new research recently published in the journal Nutrients, as of 2021, people still reported limiting their egg consumption due to the cholesterol content of eggs. This leads to the need for additional education for both the general public and healthcare professionals regarding the health benefits of eggs.
It’s important to note that this research was funded by an unrestricted grant from the American Egg Board’s Egg Nutrition Center (Award #20194881), but the authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Tracking egg consumption for over 48 years
For this study, researchers analyzed data from about 6,300 participants in the Rancho Bernardo Study between 1972 and 1974. During this period, participants were asked how many eggs they ate each week.
Approximately 1,600 and 1,400 participants, respectively, were asked again about their egg consumption during follow-up visits between 1988-1991 and 1992-1996.
In 2021, a survey was mailed to surviving participants. Of them, 710 participants responded, providing information about their egg consumption and barriers that might limit their egg intake.
“Data from the Rancho Bernardo Study afforded us an unparalleled opportunity to examine the trends in egg consumption over 48 years,” Donna Kritz-Silverstein, PhD, professor and assistant dean for teaching programs at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, and professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, both at the University of California San Diego, and lead author of this study, told Medical News Today.
“There is no other study that has followed participants that can examine whether egg consumption impacts health over such a long period of time,” she said.
Upon analysis, Kritz-Silverstein and her team found that while participants reported eating 3.6 eggs per week in 1972-1974, this amount dropped to 1.8 per week from 1988-1991 and about the same amount from 1992-1996.
“Guidelines limiting egg consumption and dietary cholesterol were first promoted in 1968 by the American Heart Association,” Kritz-Silverstein explained.
Advice on eggs and cholesterol“At the time, it was thought that dietary cholesterol (i.e. the cholesterol found in eggs) could raise levels of plasma cholesterol. This amount of dietary cholesterol that could be consumed per day was further reduced later on for those at high risk of heart disease. It was not until 2015 — and after a lot of research had been done — that these guidelines were abandoned.”
— Donna Kritz-Silverstein, PhD
“In this study, egg consumption was only assessed at four time points, so that we cannot know the precise timing at which guidelines were adopted or abandoned,” she continued.
“But given that the adoption of guidelines by the general public likely takes some time from when they are first put forth, it is reasonable that the original assessment of egg intake in 1972-74 was close to the time when people first became aware of these guidelines. By 1988-91 and 1992-96, guidelines likely had widespread adoption,” she told MNT.
Egg misconceptions linger as of 2021
When looking at egg consumption numbers in 2021, the researchers found that the average number of eggs consumed per week increased to 3.4, an amount similar to that in 1972-74.
“By 2021, guidelines had been abandoned, but it takes time for the information to trickle down and for people to change their habits,” Kritz-Silverstein said.
Also, in the 2021 data, scientists found that 22.1% of those who responded reported limiting their egg consumption.
“Most people indicated that they limited their egg intake because they either thought it was healthier, because of the high cholesterol content of eggs, or because of a doctor’s recommendation due to their own high (plasma) cholesterol level,” Kritz-Silverstein detailed. “Our study showed that the guidelines surrounding egg consumption, whether they were appropriate or not, impacted egg intake. Despite the abandonment of these guidelines, they continue to serve as a barrier to egg consumption for some people.”
“Results of this study suggest that to counter the lingering effects of outdated dietary restrictions, additional education is needed for healthcare professionals as well as the general public. Campaigns targeting older individuals regarding the benefits of eggs for health maintenance could be useful.”
— Donna Kritz-Silverstein, PhD
Medical News Today
Written by: Corrie Pelc
Fact Checked by: Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN
Are eggs good or bad for cholesterol? Outdated misconceptions seem to persist
