There are MAJOR problems with this study, beyond what's clear from the abstract.

The most important is that the average age of the low-consumption group is 55 and the high-consumption group is 69. These are on the low and high end of their Framingham risk point groups, respectively, so the increased risk from age alone is min 37.5%, but closer to the max of 50%. In other words, major increases in arterial plaque are already known to be age-related, and they didn't adjust for that.

They also don't mention that the high-consumption group's lipid panels are indistinguishable from the low-consumption group's. Since the high-consumption folks are older, they should be worse, and they're not. This study doesn't come close to saying what the authors claim - if anything, it supports the opposite conclusion.

Add this to the documented anti-atherogenic effects of eggs, much larger studies showing no impact or positive impacts of eggs, and of course the Framingham findings that higher dietary cholesterol was associated with lower, not higher, CVD risk.

Another important misrepresentation here is that plaque isn't random, it's a repair for vascular damage. In the healthy body, plaques form and re-dissolve easily. In atherosclerosis, they persist because the damage is persisting, and that happens not because cholesterol is high, but because there are other problems, usually with insulin. So this is like blaming the bandaid instead of the butcher knife.

The worst blood lipid profiles - high triglycerides, bad ratios, COMBINED with very high cholesterol - are usually a result of high consumption and/or poor metabolism of sugars. High total cholesterol can be an indicator of other problems, but is not by itself a problem. And dietary cholesterol has little effect on blood cholesterol, anyway.

So even industrial eggs have positive effects, but I avoid them anyway, because real free-range/foraging eggs are much healthier. Birds fed primarily grain lay eggs higher in cholesterol and lower in fat-soluble nutrients than birds who eat less grain, more greens and cholesterol-rich insects.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What study are u talking about? I think eggs are one of the healthiest things you can eat.

Here it is:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/15/egg-yolks-smoking_n_1779211.html

Basically, it says egg yolks are almost as artery-clogging as cigarettes. Personally, I'm skeptical of this. If anyone having a medical background would care to comment on the study, your insights would be very welcome!

There are plenty of problems with that study; primarily the fact that the study reviewed egg yolk consumption, but did not gather data on the remaining diet patterns of the subjects. As one critic noted, "A high level of blood cholesterol can lead to arterial plaque, but there are so many factors that can affect your cholesterol above eating eggs. There's the rest of your diet, whether you're overweight, whether you exercise, genetics."

Don't eat a dozen eggs a day, but one or two each day would likely be fine (as long as they are not followed up with 12 donuts). http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/egg-nutrition

Anonymous wrote:No. Kids an adults are different. If yolks increase the risk of heart disease that doesn't apply to kids. Most studies don't apply to children.

yes I agree. In fact, my doctor told me to give my kid lots of fatty foods -- cheese, butter, eggs b/c she is underweight. Of course, I would not CONTINUE to do that when she reaches her teens, obviously b/c then the heart disease becomes an issue.

Anonymous wrote:Given the recent study regarding egg yolks and heart disease, should I limit the number of eggs my kids eat? One of my children won't eat any other type of meat, so eggs are a major protien source for him.

I give my kid eggs and she also wont eat meat. So she gets a lot of cheese, beans and eggs. I think it's fine when they are young. I would not continue to give them tons of eggs and dairy once they are older though b/c it's not healthy in the long run or for adults.

Anonymous wrote:What study are u talking about? I think eggs are one of the healthiest things you can eat.

Here it is:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/15/egg-yolks-smoking_n_1779211.html

Basically, it says egg yolks are almost as artery-clogging as cigarettes. Personally, I'm skeptical of this. If anyone having a medical background would care to comment on the study, your insights would be very welcome!

No. Kids an adults are different. If yolks increase the risk of heart disease that doesn't apply to kids. Most studies don't apply to children.

We don't limit eggs. I would cut back on meat before limiting eggs and it sounds like your kids aren't eating much meat anyway.

What study are u talking about? I think eggs are one of the healthiest things you can eat.

My son had an egg every day for a year, every once in a while two in a day. I worried a bit but I really think eggs are excellent for us for so many reasons.

I wouldnt limit

Agree, with PP. My mother was telling me back in the day she was told never to give us spinach, b/c it was so unhealhty, per a study. Whatever...

Mine eats nearly one a day. Some days none, but most days one. He's two. We're vegetarian so I rely on eggs.

Ha! That's funny -- you know how many times those reports change over the years...

... butter is bad for us, margarine is good...
... butter is good for us, margarine is bad...
... dairy is good ... dairy is bad ...

blah blah blah

Unless your kid is obese (or has a particular health issue), don't limit the eggs. They won't have to adjust their diet to accommodate heart effects for years.
Just try your best to get well balanced group of foods in them.

I'm not limiting eggs in my household at all. I think this study is more of an outlier. Most recent trends in studies are pointing to lack of exercise and eating trans fats as the more significant contributors to high levels of bad cholesterol. If you are very active and eat a clean diet, eggs likely won't make much difference either way. But I really mean active. Not just 1/2 hour walk each day (which is good, I'm not knocking it. But not enough to really keep cholesterol in check).

Given the recent study regarding egg yolks and heart disease, should I limit the number of eggs my kids eat? One of my children won't eat any other type of meat, so eggs are a major protien source for him.