2024-01-11 15:32:00
High nutrient density
11 January 2024 16:32 Robert Klatt
According to various studies, eggs are said to be harmful to health. A new research approach has now surprisingly discovered several health benefits.
Fairfield (U.S.A.). In the past, studies examining the health effects of eggs have mostly only analyzed individual biomarkers, such as heart disease, diabetes and inflammation, but have not looked at overall health. In addition, the test subjects often had existing risk factors for chronic diseases and also ate a special diet or tried to lose weight. However, these factors can distort the interpretation of the effects of eggs on health indicators in healthy people.
The studies therefore provided results, among other things, according to which eggs increase levels of so-called bad cholesterol (LDL) and inflammatory markers that are linked to heart disease and diabetes. Other studies, however, came to the conclusion that eggs are particularly healthy foods due to their nutrient density.
Comprehensive health measurements analyzed
Researchers at Fairfield University led by Catherine J. Andersen conducted a new study that took into account many health measurements that a doctor would take during a routine examination.
“It helps provide a comprehensive picture of the effects of egg consumption in a young, healthy population using standardized, routine clinical biomarkers. We believe this allows for greater transferability to the general population.”
According to the publication in the specialist magazine Nutrients The researchers examined the consumption of no eggs, three egg whites per day and three whole eggs per day. The test subjects were able to prepare the eggs as they wished.
Whole eggs lead to an increase in choline
The test subjects’ blood samples show that eating whole eggs leads to a significant increase in choline. This is an essential nutrient found in egg yolks. In medicine, choline is associated with the increase in the metabolite TMAO, which in turn is thought to trigger heart disease. However, the test subjects’ studies show that TMAO did not change despite the higher choline increase.
“That’s kind of the best possible scenario. We want to have abundant amounts of this important nutrient, but not increase this metabolite, which could potentially promote cardiovascular disease.”
Inflammation, cholesterol and diabetes
The analyzes also show that eggs have no negative effects on inflammatory reactions or cholesterol levels in the blood. Consuming whole eggs also reduces biomarkers associated with the development of diabetes. Overall, people who ate whole eggs had higher nutrient density in their diet and increased hematocrit. This shows the density of red blood cells in the.
“The fact that we looked at the comprehensive range of measurements allows for a better assessment of the overall impact of egg consumption that one might expect. I think this is important because if you see a change in one marker that is less positive, perhaps in context you can see beneficial shifts in others.”
Health effects in women
About half of the female study participants took the oral contraceptive pill. The researchers were therefore able to examine whether nutritional outcomes differ for women using the pill.
“These are very common medications, and there is a lack of studies that have examined the impact of taking these medications on how one might respond to a dietary intervention.”
Blood samples from female participants who weren’t taking the pill showed greater increases in the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, which is considered a risk factor for heart disease. Female participants who were not taking the pill also had greater increases in blood monocytes compared to participants who were taking the pill. Monocytes are part of the body’s first defense reaction.
“That was the opposite of what we could expect. This is because hormonal contraceptives are often associated with adverse metabolic changes. But in this case it seemed to have more of a protective effect in response to eggs.”
Nutrients, doi: 10.3390/nu15173747
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