Egg Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Is there anything to worry about?
This study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2020, examines the association between egg consumption and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) using data from three large US cohort studies and a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.
PMID: 32453379
The relationship between egg consumption and T2D risk has been controversial, with conflicting results from different studies. This research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of this association.
Key Points
The study analysed data from three large US cohorts: Nurses' Health Study (NHS), Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II), and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS).
A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies were also conducted.
The study considered long-term egg consumption patterns and adjusted for various lifestyle and dietary factors.
Aim
To evaluate the association between egg consumption and T2D risk in three large US prospective cohorts and perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.
Methods
Followed 82,750 women from NHS, 89,636 women from NHS II, and 41,412 men from HPFS.
Egg consumption was assessed every 2-4 years using validated food frequency questionnaires.
Used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
Conducted a meta-analysis of 16 prospective cohort studies, including 589,559 participants and 41,248 incident T2D cases.
Results
During 5,529,959 person-years of follow-up, 20,514 incident cases of T2D were documented across the three cohorts.
In the pooled multivariable model, a 1-egg/day increase was associated with a 14% higher T2D risk.
Meta-analysis results showed significant differences by geographic region:
US studies: Each 1 egg/day was associated with higher T2D risk (RR: 1.18)
European studies: No significant association (RR: 0.99)
Asian studies: No significant association (RR: 0.82)
Related
Practical Takeaways
Moderate egg consumption (up to 1 egg per day) appears to be safe for most people, as the overall meta-analysis showed no significant association with T2D risk.
Consider your overall dietary pattern rather than focusing solely on egg consumption.
Be aware that the association between egg consumption and T2D risk may vary depending on your geographic location and dietary habits.
If you have concerns about T2D risk, consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice.
Key Takeaways
The study suggests that moderate egg consumption is not strongly associated with an increased risk of T2D when considering global data. However, there are regional differences, with US studies showing a potential increased risk. The inconsistency in results across regions highlights the need for further research to understand the role of dietary patterns and other factors that may influence the relationship between egg consumption and T2D risk. Overall, eggs can be part of a healthy diet, but individual factors and overall dietary patterns should be considered when making dietary choices.
Reference
Drouin-Chartier, P., Schwab, A. L., Chen, S., Li, Y., Sacks, F. M., Rosner, B., Manson, J. E., Willett, W. C., Stampfer, M. J., Hu, F. B., & Bhupathiraju, S. N. (2020). Egg consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: Findings from 3 large US cohort studies of men and women and a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 112(3), 619. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa115