New Study Sheds Light on Eggs and Cholesterol

The guidance on eggs has varied significantly over time. Some research indicates that eating them could be harmful to health, while other studies have highlighted their benefits as a rich source of protein and nutrients.

A recent study contributes to the growing perspective that eggs are, in fact, beneficial. It investigates how saturated fat and cholesterol specifically affect low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

Exercise scientist Jonathan Buckley from the University of South Australia points out that “eggs have long been unfairly criticized due to outdated dietary recommendations. They are unique in that they are high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat. Unfortunately, this cholesterol content has caused many to question their role in a healthy diet.”

He adds, “In this study, we isolated the effects of cholesterol and saturated fat, discovering that high dietary cholesterol from eggs, when paired with a low saturated fat diet, does not elevate bad cholesterol levels. Instead, it’s the saturated fat that drives the increase.”

The researchers studied 61 adults with similar LDL cholesterol levels, assigning them to follow three distinct diets over five weeks. Ultimately, 48 participants completed all three diets.

The first diet was high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat, including two eggs daily. The second was low in cholesterol but high in saturated fat, without any eggs. The third diet was high in both cholesterol and saturated fat, featuring just one egg per week.

The findings indicated a rise in LDL cholesterol with diets rich in saturated fat. Conversely, the high-cholesterol, low-saturated fat diet led to a decrease in LDL cholesterol, suggesting that eggs aren’t to blame for increasing bad cholesterol.

Buckley concludes, “You could say we’ve delivered hard-boiled evidence defending the humble egg. So, when you think about breakfast, it’s not the eggs you should be concerned about – it’s more likely the additional bacon or sausage that could affect your heart health.”

This research has been published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.