Controversy over the potential health risks associated with egg consumption

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A recent US study in the United States sheds new light on the debate over egg consumption, especially among those who consider it beneficial for health by enriching protein or harmful at high rates cholesterol in the body.

The new analysis, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (GAMA), covers 30,000 Americans in 6 separate studies.

He concluded that consumption of an additional half egg per day increased the risk of cardiovascular disease by 6% and premature death by 8% during the study period. This proportion is relatively small, especially since a half egg per day is twice the average consumption of Americans.

Moreover, the study showed that supplementation of 300 mg dietary cholesterol daily increased the risk of heart disease by 17% and premature death by 18%. This is a significant amount because 300 milligrams account for half of Americans' daily dietary cholesterol intake (a large egg containing about 186 milligrams of cholesterol).

These studies have concluded that egg consumption increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

However, as with all studies of this type, this new analysis does not establish a causal link in this context.

"However, the study provides enough data to make it clear that eggs and the total amount of dietary cholesterol are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially deaths for whatever reason," he said. Dr. Robert Eckel in an article published by Gama.

But according to a professor of nutritional medicine at King's University of London, the results should be compared to those of a major US study from 1999 that revealed no effects, just like an analysis done in 2013 by BMG on 3 million adults, British Medical. A recent Chinese study revealed unfavorable results.

Sanders said the new findings are only valid in the United States, where the population consumes more eggs and meat than Europe. "Eating eggs moderately is beneficial," wrote Sanders. "This is confirmed by the current British food recommendations," which advocate 3 to 4 eggs a week.