Healthy Heart Tolerates Egg Consumption

Eating eggs may not be so bad for cholesterol levels and theheart, according to a study reported in the International Journal ofCardiology (March 10, 2005). For the study, the researchersexamined the effect that egg or oat consumption has on endothelialfunction (an aggregate measure of cardiac risk) in 49 healthyadults. The participants consumed 2 eggs daily for 6 weeks.

The researchers learned that flow-mediated dilation (FMD)remained stable in both groups and did not differ significantlybetween them. FMD is an analysis of how well the endothelium—the lining of the blood vessel—acts to keep blood movingby opening the vessel. The investigators noted that egg consumptiondid not cause an increase in either total or low-densitylipoprotein cholesterol levels. Oat intake, however, considerablylowered both levels.