Is egg consumption associated with increased heart disease, as posited by X user?

Claim: A social media user posted that Eggs are not healthy food, and their consumption increases the risk of preventable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. 

Verdict: MISLEADING. 

Available studies on egg consumption and the risk of heart disease are mixed. Some reported increased risk, while others reported no association. 

Full Text

Over the years, the discourse on the association between egg consumption and the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases has remained controversial. 

Several studies have been conducted on egg consumption and the risk of coronary artery disease, ischemic disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, the findings from these studies were mixed. Some studies reported increased risk, while others reported no association.

Based on the topic’s controversial nature, there seems to be no universally acceptable verdict on egg consumption and the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

However, the discussion has resurfaced on social media in recent times. An X user, Tofur (@Alexzia777), posted that eggs are not healthy food and that their consumption increases the risk of preventable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Comments under the post reveal varying views among users, with some expressing doubts while others supporting the claim.

A user, @CarDen1974, commented, “Just show me one peer-reviewed study (so no reviews) that proves eggs are unhealthy, and I will go vegan, too.”

Another user, @Ferlonso14, said, “Eggs are a superfood. They don’t increase the risks of anything, buddy. They contain heart-healthy nutrients.”

As of March 20, 2024, the post has attracted 1,885 views, 53 likes, 25 retweets and comments.

We decided to verify the integrity of the claim due to the significant impact the claim holds on people’s health.

Verification

Eggs are a source of protein derived from chickens and are a typical food eaten worldwide. One whole egg is rich in vitamins A, B2, B12, B5, and minerals vital for human health.

However, eating eggs is controversial due to its high concentration of cholesterol, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

The body needs a moderate cholesterol level to build and repair the cells. Cholesterol comes from two sources: the body and the food we eat, such as meat, dairy foods, and eggs. 

The cholesterol from the body is called blood cholesterol, which is either good cholesterol (HDL) or bad cholesterol (LDL).

When LDL is produced in excess, it sticks to the walls of the arteries—vessels that circulate blood in the body. This process narrows the artery and increases the risk of heart disease. 

A study, “Eggs and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: An Update of Recent Evidence”, by Sharayah Carter et al., reviewed 35 studies on eggs and the risk of heart disease. The review showed most studies are unable to establish a causal relationship between egg intake and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Furthermore, it explained that the controversy on egg consumption is because foods that are high in cholesterol also have saturated fats, which can increase bad cholesterol in the body and the risk of heart disease.

However, eggs have low saturated fat but, like any other food, are often consumed with different foods, which can influence the total cholesterol and saturated fat intake.

So, sometimes, it is not only about the cholesterol in eggs consumed but also the amount of cholesterol in other foods paired with eggs.

Jo Carson, a professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, in the American Heart Association News asserted that amidst the controversy on egg consumption,  the key is for people to know their risk factors. She stated that people who are at risk of diabetes or heart attack should be cautious of the amount of cholesterol in their daily diet.

“But that’s not to say cholesterol makes eggs a harmful choice. Eggs may be considered less dangerous if a person’s diet contains little other cholesterol. For someone who’s decided to go vegetarian, and they’re not eating red meat, maybe the only source of cholesterol would be in an egg,” she said.

Pradeep Natarajan, a cardiologist and director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Center, mentioned that if eggs are eaten in moderation, they can be part of a healthy diet. He stated, “ Eggs are fine, but limit the total amount to one per day, averaged over a week, without going into extreme excess in one day.”

Most systematic reviews and meta-analyses either found a link or no link between egg and heart disease risk. These conflicting results contribute to the ongoing debate over the influence of egg intake on heart disease risk.

We spoke to Jeffrey Ajoko, a medical doctor at International SOS, on egg consumption and the risk of heart disease, who explained that eggs are a good source of protein. Still, their high deposit of cholesterol is sometimes associated with the risk of heart disease. 

He asserted that “Heart disease is a wide spectrum, but the aspect of heart disease linked to egg consumption is atherosclerosis, which deals with hardening of heart tissues. Atherosclerosis occurs when excess cholesterol is deposited in the body. It could block the artery and obstruct blood circulation.”

“To clarify the confusion surrounding the topic, the American Heart Association suggests one whole egg (or two egg whites) per day for people who include eggs in their daily diet,” Dr Ajoko said. 

Conclusion

Studies on the association between egg consumption and the risk of heart disease and diabetes remain inconclusive. While some studies show a connection between egg intake and the risk of heart disease, other studies show no connection.

This fact-check was produced as part of the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship in partnership with Dataphyte to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in Journalism and enhance media and information literacy in the country.