Consumption Of One Egg A Week Turns Out To Be Effective In Lowering The Risk Of Death Due To Heart Disease

JAKARTA - Regular eating of eggs can be attributed to a reduced risk of death related to heart disease in older adults, according to a recent study. Researchers from Monash University in Australia followed more than 8,700 adults aged 70 years or older.

Those who report consuming between 1-6 eggs per week show a lower risk of death from heart disease by up to 29 percent. In addition, they also showed a 15 percent decrease in the overall risk of death compared to those eating eggs only twice a month or less. These results are published in the journal Nutrients.

"Our results show that eating up to six eggs a week can reduce the risk of death from all causes and diseases related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults", Holly Wild, a lecturer in epidemiology and preventive medicine at Monash University, said in a statement, quoted by VOI from the Euro News website on Wednesday, February 12.

"These findings can be useful in developing proof-based diet guidelines for older adults," he added.

Benefits of Eating Eggs

Eggs are an important source of protein and nutrients, such as vitamin B, folates, unsaturated fatty acids, fat soluble vitamins (E, D, A, and K), colon, and various minerals. However, egg consumption has long been considered a problem for people with high cholesterol, a condition that can cause blood vessel blockage and increase the likelihood of heart problems or stroke.

Therefore, the research team conducted further research on people with high cholesterol who were clinically diagnosed, called dyslipidemia.

"We found that participants with dyslipidemia who consume eggs every week have a lower risk of death related to heart disease by 27 percent, compared to those who rarely or never consume eggs. This shows that in the cohor of this study, the presence of dyslipidemia does not affect the risks associated with egg consumption," explained Wild.

"Our results show that eating up to six eggs a week can reduce the risk of death from all causes and diseases related to cardiovascular disease in older adults. These findings can be useful in developing proof-based diet guidelines for older adults," he added.

Guidelines in Europe vary between one country and another. But a review conducted by the American Heart Association in 2020 concluded that a healthy individual can eat seven eggs a week safely.