Sunny side up for eggs and cholesterol
It’s time to rethink the reputation of eggs
Advertisement
From poached to panfried, when it comes to eggs, it’s all sunny side up, as new research from the University of South Australia confirms that this breakfast favourite won’t crack your cholesterol.
Long blamed for high cholesterol, eggs have been beaten up for their assumed role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Now, UniSA researchers have shown definitively that it’s not dietary cholesterol in eggs but the saturated fat in our diets that’s the real heart health concern.
In a world-first study, researchers examined the independent effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat on LDL cholesterol (the ‘bad’ kind), finding that eating two eggs a day – as part of a high cholesterol but low saturated fat diet – can actually reduce LDL levels and lower the risk of heart disease.
CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for nearly 18 million deaths each year. In Australia, one person dies from CVD every 12 minutes, accounting for one in four of deaths nationwide.
Lead researcher, UniSA’s Professor Jon Buckley, says it’s time to rethink the reputation of eggs. “Eggs have long been unfairly cracked by outdated dietary advice,” Prof Buckley says.
“They’re unique – high in cholesterol, yes, but low in saturated fat. Yet it’s their cholesterol level that has often caused people to question their place in a healthy diet,” Prof Buckley says.
“In this study, we separated the effects of cholesterol and saturated fat, finding that high dietary cholesterol from eggs, when eaten as part of a low saturated fat diet, does not raise bad cholesterol levels. Instead, it was the saturated fat that was the real driver of cholesterol elevation.”
“You could say we’ve delivered hard-boiled evidence in defence of the humble egg.”
“So, when it comes to a cooked breakfast, it’s not the eggs you need to worry about – it’s the extra serve of bacon or the side of sausage that’s more likely to impact your heart health.”
Original publication
Other news from the department science
Most read news
More news from our other portals
Last viewed contents
Innovative treatment for liver tumors: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) at the University Hospital Regensburg
2060 NIR-R Analyzer | NIR spectrometers | Metrohm
Guide to the Purification of Proteins and Antibodies Using Ion Exchange Chromatography - Summarised for you: the most important aspects of method development!
How is High-Throughput Multi-Parameter Flow Cytometry used in Biopharma? - Learn how Biopharma industry experts apply flow cytometry in Drug Discovery & Development
RNA Therapeutics: Ultrasensitive detection and absolute quantification with Droplet Digital PCR - Transforming Bioanalysis of RNA Therapeutics, from Discovery and Development to Manufacturing QC
Thermal Stability Technology Selection Guide for Biotherapeutic Drug Development - Guide to automated biologics stability testing for quality and regulatory support
A troubleshooting guide to microplate-based assays - Understand the impact microplate features and microplate reader settings have on your results
Data Integrity, Compliance and Weighing Excellence while Saving Time - Sartorius and STARLIMS Collaboration delivers Pharma Efficiencies & Data Compliance
STAVEX | Process optimization software | AICOS Technologies
Bactron 400 HP | Anaerobic workbenches | Dunn
Octave BIO MCC System | Chromatography systems | Tosoh
