Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Eating three eggs at one time or taking two eggs per day
for six weeks does not constrict arteries in people with high
cholesterol, while eating a single sausage/cheese breakfast
sandwich does (). Constricted
arteries, called endothelial dysfunction, cause arteriosclerosis,
high blood pressure, heart attacks and diabetes (2); while opening
arteries is associated with reversal of arteriosclerosis (3).
In the same study, people who ate egg whites (but not the
yolks) daily for six weeks had less artery constriction than those
who ate the whole eggs. The authors do not explain this finding.
Multiple studies show little, if any, evidence that eating eggs is
associated with increased risk for heart attacks or death (4). The
main concern about eggs is their extremely high concentration of
cholesterol. However, research has failed to show that dietary
cholesterol, itself, increases heart attack risk because the
relationship of egg consumption to heart attacks depends not just
on eggs, but on the total diet (5). Large population studies do show
increased risk for heart attacks in people who eat mammal meat (6),
but not those who eat poultry. Those who eat fish and plants have
reduced heart attack risk.
1. Nutrition Journal, July 2010
2. Atherosclerosis 1997, 129:111-118
3. Am J Cardiol 1995, 75:71B-74B24
4. JAMA 1999;281:1387-1394.48; British Medical Journal 1990;300(6727):771-773
5. Am J Clin Nutr 2002, 75(2):333-335
6. Archives of Internal Medicine, March 2009
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