Higher Egg and Cholesterol Consumption Increases Heart Disease and Death Risk

Once again it is your doctors responsibility to determine the correct answer specifically for you. I never could figure out why dietary cholesterol would translate into blood cholesterol. Don't listen to me, I'm not medically trained, is your doctor?

Are you in this group? Does your doctor know about this group?

Why Dietary Cholesterol Does Not Matter (for most people)

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Higher Egg and Cholesterol Consumption Increases Heart Disease and Death Risk

Contrary to 2010 guidelines, the new 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans  from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services no longer limits the consumption of dietary cholesterol, which used to be 300 mg per day, nor does it advise against eating eggs. In fact, the current dietary recommendations include weekly egg consumption as part of a healthy diet. On average, U.S. adults consume an average of 300 mg of dietary cholesterol per day and eat about three or four eggs per week. As the database of clinical research on the connection between high dietary cholesterol levels and heart disease continues to grow, there may be an increased need to reevaluate the current dietary recommendations.

A new Northwestern Medicine study found a link between egg and dietary cholesterol consumption, and a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Evaluating over 30,000 diverse U.S. adults and their diet histories, the research team discovered a correlation between the incidence of heart disease and the eating habits of participants.

Study Findings

Led by Wenze Zhong, the Northwestern team assessed the nutritional patterns of racially and ethnically diverse participants for up to 31 years of follow up and found that eating 300 mg of dietary cholesterol per day was associated with a 17% higher risk of incident cardiovascular disease. An 18% increase in the risk of all-cause deaths was revealed, with cholesterol as the driving factor behind these changes, independent of saturated or dietary fat consumption.

Additionally, the study reported a 6% increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with high egg consumption as well as a rise of 8% in the risk of all-cause death. Eating three to four eggs per week was enough to raise the risk of these life-threatening consequences, while exercise and overall diet quality had no effect on the association between cholesterol and heart disease.

Eggs and Cholesterol

While eggs are well-known to be high in cholesterol, the notion that they raise the risk of heart disease has been heavily contested over decades. Previous studies have found no link between cardiovascular disease and egg consumption, although most of them had less diverse samples and shorter follow-up times. However, cholesterol, regardless of its source, has been indisputably associated with increased risk of heart disease.

Lowering cholesterol levels is an essential component of maintaining a healthy diet and lowering the risk of heart disease. Eliminating eggs could prove useful as they are notoriously cholesterol-rich; egg yolks themselves are one of the highest sources of most commonly consumed dietary cholesterol, containing up to 186 mg of dietary cholesterol in one large egg.

Recommendations

Based on the study, dietary cholesterol intake should remain low in order to minimize heart disease and death risks. Reducing cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs, red or processed meat, and high-fat dairy products is a key step in maintaining low cholesterol levels.  However, there is no indication that eggs and other high cholesterol foods need to be eliminated entirely, as they are good sources of important nutrients such as essential amino acids and iron.

Opting for egg whites instead of whole eggs, or eating eggs in moderation may be a sufficient preventative measure for some individuals. Adherence to a properly balanced, healthy diet should be recommended to all patients looking to lower their risk of heart disease.

Although the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines exclude dietary cholesterol limits, the change does not suggest that this factor is no longer important. Individuals should aim to eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible, while the study findings indicate that the current guidelines may need to be reassessed.