Context:

Recent research indicates that consuming two eggs daily may improve cholesterol levels in healthy adults, challenging the long-standing belief that eggs contribute to high cholesterol. The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, highlights saturated fat as the primary factor in elevating LDL cholesterol, rather than dietary cholesterol found in eggs. Participants on a diet high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat, which included two eggs per day, showed a decrease in LDL cholesterol compared to those on a high saturated fat diet. Experts suggest that eggs can be part of a heart-healthy diet, though individuals with certain conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia should be cautious. Saturated fat intake should be limited to support heart health, as recommended by the American Heart Association.

Dive Deeper:

• A new study found that eating two eggs daily improved cholesterol levels in healthy adults, suggesting that dietary cholesterol is not the main cause of high LDL cholesterol levels.

• The research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, identified saturated fat as the primary culprit for elevated LDL cholesterol, not the cholesterol found in eggs.

• Participants following a diet with two eggs per day, which was high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat, experienced a reduction in LDL cholesterol compared to those on a high saturated fat diet.

• Experts now agree that eggs can be included in a heart-healthy diet, but individuals with conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia should limit their intake due to their body's inability to regulate cholesterol effectively.

• Most of the blood cholesterol is produced by the liver, not derived from diet, and increasing dietary cholesterol might lead to the body reducing its own cholesterol production.

• Dietary guidelines suggest limiting saturated fat intake to no more than 13 grams per day to maintain heart health, emphasizing the differentiation between dietary cholesterol and saturated fat in foods.

• The study was funded by the Egg Nutrition Center, which may present a potential conflict of interest; however, the findings align with broader dietary recommendations to focus on reducing saturated fat intake.