Eggs for Heart Health: Study Finds No Harm in Eating Fortified Eggs for Up to Four Months

A new study has found that it is safe for people with heart health concerns to eat eggs. The study, led by Dr. Nina Nouhravesh at the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina, examined the cholesterol levels of participants who ate eggs compared to those who did not.

The study included 140 patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease who consumed 12 or more fortified eggs per week over a period of four months. Fortified eggs contain less saturated fat and additional vitamins and minerals like vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, which are typically added through enriched feed for the hens producing the eggs.

The study was funded by Eggland’s Best, one of the largest egg producers in the U.S. Participants were over the age of 50 and had to have had one prior cardiovascular event with two cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Researchers measured participants’ LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, known as “good” cholesterol, along with other biomarkers after the four-month period. The results showed that there was no adverse effect on the cholesterol levels of those who consumed 12 eggs per week compared to those who did not.

Dr. Nouhravesh stated that while this was a small study, it provides reassurance that eating fortified eggs is safe in terms of lipid effects over a four-month period, even among a more high-risk population. This study suggests that consuming eggs, especially fortified ones, may not negatively impact heart health, contrary to previous beliefs.