Research suggests that eating eggs frequently may be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease-related fatalities among older individuals.
Researchers from Monash University in Australia studied a group of more than 8,700 adults aged 70 years or older.
People who had one to six eggs a week had a 15% decrease in risk of dying from any cause compared to those who ate eggs less than twice a month.
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“Our research shows that having up to six eggs a week in your diet might lower the risk of dying from any cause and heart-related illnesses in older Australians,” Holly Wild, a lecturer in epidemiology and preventive medicine at Monash University, said in a statement.
“These discoveries could be useful in creating evidence-based dietary recommendations for older Australians”.
Benefits of eating eggs
Eggs are a source of protein and vital nutrients, including B vitamins, folate, healthy fats, vitamins D, E, A, and K, choline, and a range of minerals, she said.
However, eating eggs has been a concern for people with high cholesterol for a long time, as it can increase the risk of blocked blood vessels and make people more likely to have heart-related problems or a stroke.
So, the team did some extra research into people who have been officially diagnosed with high cholesterol, which is known as dyslipidemia.
“We discovered a 27 per cent lower risk of heart-related deaths for people with high cholesterol who ate eggs once a week, compared to those who hardly or never ate eggs, which suggests that in this study group, having high cholesterol doesn’t change the risk linked to eating eggs,” Wild said.
“Our results show that having up to six eggs a week can lower the chance of dying from any cause and heart-related illnesses in older Aussies. These findings could be a help in creating dietary guidelines that are backed by evidence for older people,” she said.
The European guidelines differ from one country to another, but a review published by the American Heart Association in 2020 found that healthy individuals can safely eat seven eggs per week.
