Effect of Daily Incorporation of Eggs in a Heart-Healthy Diet for 8 Weeks Compared with Their Exclusion on Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in Adults with Hyperlipidemia: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized, controlled, single-blind crossover trial
PubMed 40957619 · doi:10.1080/27697061.2025.2560431
What was done
Researchers evaluated the cardiometabolic effects of adding two whole eggs daily to a heart-healthy diet in 45 adults with hyperlipidemia (mean age 59.5 years; 35 female, 10 male). In a randomized, single-blind, crossover design, participants completed two 8-week phases: a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet with two eggs daily (isocaloric substitution) and a DASH diet without eggs. Phases were preceded by a 4-week run-in and separated by an 8-week washout. The primary outcomes were LDL cholesterol and endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation. Secondary outcomes included other lipid parameters, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, C-reactive protein, and dietary intake.
What was found
Consuming two eggs daily within the DASH diet did not significantly alter endothelial function (Δ with eggs: 2.7 ± 10.8% vs. Δ without eggs: 3.7 ± 19.9%; difference -1.1%, p = 0.767) or LDL cholesterol (Δ with eggs: 13.0 ± 23.5 mg/dL vs. Δ without eggs: 8.9 ± 19.6 mg/dL; difference 4.2 mg/dL, p = 0.317). The egg-containing diet resulted in higher relative choline intake (difference +118.6 mg/d, p = 0.002) and lower carbohydrate intake (difference -174.1 kcal/d, p = 0.032). No significant differences were observed between diets for blood pressure, other lipid fractions, C-reactive protein, or glycemic control.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that consuming two eggs daily within an established healthy dietary pattern like DASH does not adversely affect primary vascular or lipid markers in hyperlipidemic adults. This provides evidence relevant to clinical recommendations that restrict dietary egg yolk intake in this population.
Limits
The sample size was modest (n = 45) and predominantly female (35 of 45) and Caucasian (42 of 45). The intervention was relatively short (8 weeks per arm), precluding assessment of hard cardiovascular clinical endpoints. The study relied on dietary counseling rather than fully controlled feeding, introducing potential reporting error and variation in compliance.