Abstract
PurposeThe association between egg consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains controversial. We investigated the association between egg consumption and risk of CVD (primary outcome), T2D and mortality in the Caerphilly prospective cohort study (CAPS) and National Diet and Nutritional Survey (NDNS).MethodsCAPS included 2512 men aged 45–59 years (1979–1983). Dietary intake, disease incidence and mortality were updated at 5-year intervals. NDNS included 754 adults aged 19–64 years from 2008 to 2012.ResultsMen free of CVD (n = 1781) were followed up for a mean of 22.8 years, egg consumption was not associated with new incidence of CVD (n = 715), mortality (n = 1028) or T2D (n = 120). When stroke (n = 248), MI (n = 477), heart failure (n = 201) were investigated separately, no associations between egg consumption and stroke and MI were identified, however, increased risk of stroke in subjects with T2D and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, fasting plasma glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol/L), adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) were 1.0 (reference), 1.09 (0.41, 2.88), 0.96 (0.37, 2.50), 1.39 (0.54, 3.56) and 2.87 (1.13, 7.27) for egg intake (n) of 0 ≤ n ≤ 1, 1 < n ≤ 2, 2 < n ≤ 3, 3 < n < 5, and n ≥ 5 eggs/wk, respectively (P = 0.01). In addition, cross-sectional analyses revealed that higher egg consumption was significantly associated with elevated fasting glucose in those with T2D and/or IGT (CAPS: baseline P = 0.02 and 5-year P = 0.04; NDNS: P = 0.05).ConclusionsHigher egg consumption was associated with higher blood glucose in subjects with T2D and/or IGT. The increased incidence of stroke with higher egg consumption among T2D and/or IGT sub-group warrants further investigation.
Highlights
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing globally
Fuller et al [11] reported no effect of egg intake on glycaemic control in a 3-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) in subjects with T2D, whereas an inverse association between egg intake and fasting plasma glucose was reported in a prospective cohort study [12]
Shin et al [14] concluded that consumption of up to one egg per day was associated with an increased risk of CVD in those suffering from T2D, whereas Rong et al [13] found intake of up to one egg per day was associated with an increased risk of CHD in diabetic patients, but may have contributed to a reduced risk of hemorrhagic stroke in this sub-group
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing globally. Fuller et al [11] reported no effect of egg intake on glycaemic control in a 3-month RCT in subjects with T2D, whereas an inverse association between egg intake and fasting plasma glucose was reported in a prospective cohort study [12]. Some studies [13, 14] have shown that consumption of up to one egg per day is not associated with increased risk of CVD in the general population, which is in contrast to a recent meta-analysis which reported up to one egg per day was associated with reduced risk of stroke [15]. Shin et al [14] concluded that consumption of up to one egg per day was associated with an increased risk of CVD in those suffering from T2D, whereas Rong et al [13] found intake of up to one egg per day was associated with an increased risk of CHD in diabetic patients, but may have contributed to a reduced risk of hemorrhagic stroke in this sub-group
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