Seven Eggs A Week Can Kill You!

[PilotGal]

eggs can kill you (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/10/AR2008041001524.html)

THURSDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests that consuming more than six eggs a week seems to raise the risk of dying from all causes.

And diabetics seem to face an even higher mortality risk, according to the study that was limited to men.

"The more eggs diabetic men consumed, the more they increased their risk for death," said study lead author Dr. Luc Djousse, an associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Djousse and his team analyzed egg consumption and mortality data among more than 21,000 men who had participated in a Physician's Health Study that explored heart disease and cancer prevention among American male doctors.

Participants ranged in age from 40 to 86. Over an average of 20 years, all the doctors completed annual written questionnaires on daily egg consumption, stroke and heart attack incidence, diabetes status, cholesterol levels, alcohol and smoking habits, and general dietary information.

On average, the physicians were found to have consumed one egg a week -- a rate the study authors termed "relatively low."

Overall, egg consumption wasn't found to be associated with heart attack or stroke risk. And consumption of up to six eggs a week also wasn't found to be associated with a higher risk of death from all causes. But eating seven or more eggs a week among healthy study participants was linked to a 23 percent higher risk of death.

Even more striking was the finding that mortality risk was much higher among those doctors with diabetes. Consuming seven or more eggs a week doubled their risk of death from all causes, compared with diabetic doctors who ate just one egg each week.

The findings were published in the April issue ofThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

[waywardsis]

I blogged about this one, bc it made me so mad - in Yahoo News, they included the part about how the ppl who died earlier also smoked and had other factors. This was included as an afterthought, of course, because we all know it was the eggs that did it.

Mike Eades is going to blog about this as well.

[deirdra]

How many SAD people eat these eggs without toast?

[pauleo]

I blogged about this one, bc it made me so mad - in Yahoo News, they included the part about how the ppl who died earlier also smoked and had other factors. This was included as an afterthought, of course, because we all know it was the eggs that did it.

The researchers did attempt to remove these other factors statistically, and were still left with the effect. Here's the relevant bit of the abstract

"Compared with subjects who reported egg consumption of <1 per week, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for HF were 1.28 (1.02 to 1.61) and 1.64 (1.08 to 2.49) for egg consumption of 1 per day and ≥2 per day, respectively, after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, and history of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, valvular heart disease, and hypercholesterolemia."

[ruthla]

I suspect that, if any "protective" effect was found from limiting eggs, it's only because the people who actually listened to that nutritonal advice are the same people who took care of their health in general- avoiding processed foods, exercising regularly, etc.

I also can't help but read "death from all causes" and the title "seven eggs a week can kill you" and visuallize hard-boiled eggs in catapults thrown at people's heads- perhaps eggs are deadly when used that way, rather than eaten? ;)

[lowjax]

Here's what I pictured:

Egg Launcher
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v188/metallinostheos/Egg.jpg

I suppose if it is turned up high enough, it would kill someone.

[Hellistile]

I can't submit a comment because I've been dead for about 5 years from eating too many eggs.

[paleodude]

If I were in high school and turned this in as a report for a class, I would of probably gotten a D- at the most. This is supposed to be scientific research?

First they make the claim: "Middle-aged men who ate seven or more eggs a week had a higher risk of earlier death, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday."

"The study adds to an ever-growing body of evidence, much of it contradictory, about how safe eggs are to eat." In other words after about 40 years of this nonsense they still can't make a conclusion. Shocked

"Whereas egg consumption of up to six eggs a week was not associated with the risk of all-cause mortality, consumption of (seven or more) eggs a week was associated with a 23 percent greater risk of death.."
Now this makes no sense at all. 6 are OK, but 7 are deadly? If eggs were bad for you wouldn't 4 be a little worse than 3, wouldn't 7 be a little worse than 6?

"Men with diabetes who ate any eggs at all raised their risk of death during a 20-year period studied, according to the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
I have no comment on this.

"Egg consumption was not associated with (heart attack) or stroke," the researchers wrote.
If you eat 6 eggs a week you are OK, but if you eat 7 you increase your risk of death by 23%. But egg consumption was not associated with (heart attack) or stroke. So with all the data can't they report what was the usual cause of death in those men who ate that deadly 7th egg?

The final paragraph:

"Men who ate the most eggs also were older, fatter, ate more vegetables but less breakfast cereal, and were more likely to drink alcohol, smoke and less likely to exercise -- all factors that can affect the risk of heart attack and death."
I thought more vegetables were good for you and a drink or two a day was 'heart healthy Now they are lumping them in with "all factors that can affect the risk of heart attack and death." But didn't they say earlier in this article: "Egg consumption was not associated with (heart attack) or stroke"?

Now, I know why everyday when I get off work I see a long line of cars at McDonald's, KFC and Burger King. Most Americans don't care at all about healthy food choices. They have been inundated for years with research articles like this contradicts itself and don't make any sense. Huh

[Chefjen]

LOL I read this and think

HEADLINE :

"ALL THINGS CAN KILL YOU"

Today recent study shows breathing, talking, walking, driving, and YES FOLKS EGGS!! can killyou

LOL pathetic!

now back to my omlette

[KarenJ]

paleodude

Bingo! You are most welcome here. :wave:

You have put into words what I could not, although I was feeling that itchiness. Thanks.

[Jargon]

Wait wait wait...

Aren't ALL of us at risk for death from any cause?

[pbowers]

biggest problem with this study was not controlling for total energy intake, with high energy intake usually correlating with high CHO intake. they said they tracked the macronutrient composition of the participants' diets, why not contol for it?

[feelskinny]

Okay,then I died 29 years ago....

[LilithD]

I eat abouit 14 a week. Oh well, once I'm male, older and fatter and eat more veges, I'd better watch out...

[mermaiden9]

What the ??? is dying from all causes supposed to mean anyway?

[moggsy]

Precisely that. Not all the deaths were health related, and the health related deaths didn't always have a known connection to diet, diabetes, or obesity.

[sveltecelt]

Where do these clinical researchers get their ideas and data?
The annecdotal data---real people eating real food---is where the truth is!
People in my family have been eating eggs most/every day of the week and living into their 80's and 90's.

Yeah, I guess it took from 85-98 years for those eggs to kill my kin folk!
This reminds me of those New Zealanders that claim butter is poison. It also took at least 85 years and in some cases 94 and 98 years for butter to "poison" my family members.

Sheesh! :lol:

[LessLiz]

The annecdotal data---real people eating real food---is where the truth is!biggest problem with this study was not controlling for total energy intake, with high energy intake usually correlating with high CHO intake. they said they tracked the macronutrient composition of the participants' diets, why not contol for it? This is not a clinical study. It is an epidemiological study of what real people -- in this case physicians -- really eat -- in this case what they report in surveys that they eat -- along with their self-reported lifestyle and their health.

Without taking any issue with how corrections were made for other risk factors, as well as ignoring the causation.correlation issue, what is striking to me in these types of reports is how strongly one believes the data. How many people who report they eat on average 6 eggs a week actually eat on average 5 or 4 or 7 or 8 eggs per week? Stop and think about it for a minute -- how many people can accurately report exactly what they eat over the course of one year, much less 20 years?

[pennink]

no wonder we all get blank stares when we tell low fatting friends that our health improved while eating a dozen eggs...

it's an uphill battle, everyone!

*btw, my doctor told me my b12 was low and I should eat MORE eggs... :lol: guess she doesn't think yahoo news is a valid source of medical information.

hahahahhaaa!!!

[nocarbkat]

I had to dig myself up to write this post

[pauleo]

Without taking any issue with how corrections were made for other risk factors, as well as ignoring the causation.correlation issue, what is striking to me in these types of reports is how strongly one believes the data. How many people who report they eat on average 6 eggs a week actually eat on average 5 or 4 or 7 or 8 eggs per week? Stop and think about it for a minute -- how many people can accurately report exactly what they eat over the course of one year, much less 20 years?

Another confounding issue is that industrial-farm chickens are kept in abysmal conditions, eating the worst kind of feed soaked in antibiotics, so that it would not be that surprising if eggs now contain toxic substances. I buy 'organic' eggs, but still from the big producers, and I can't say my confidence in the organic label is high.

[Lisa N]

Wait wait wait...

Aren't ALL of us at risk for death from any cause?

Nah...I plan to die of absolutely nothing at all. ;) :lol:

[mermaiden9]

I'm so grateful to Yahoo for getting me off the road to dying of all causes. I've decided to cut out all egg consumption and live forever. ;)

[LisaAC]

I can't submit a comment because I've been dead for about 5 years from eating too many eggs.

:lol: I think I'm in the same mosilium then . LOL.

[mstares]

I wonder if "all causes" included being hit by a buse, shot by ajealous lover, having a Mount Everest accident or choking on a popsicle stick?

[Nancy LC]

I wonder if "all causes" included being hit by a buse, shot by ajealous lover, having a Mount Everest accident or choking on a popsicle stick?
Or getting mugged because you smell like eggs?

[pennink]

well guys, just wanted to come by and say goodbye. I had 6 eggs today, tomorrow's brekkie will put me over the edge.

:wave: :cry: it was nice knowing you all!

[mermaiden9]

see ya
We'll miss you heaps

[DarleenMB]

Another confounding issue is that industrial-farm chickens are kept in abysmal conditions, eating the worst kind of feed soaked in antibiotics, so that it would not be that surprising if eggs now contain toxic substances. I buy 'organic' eggs, but still from the big producers, and I can't say my confidence in the organic label is high.

YEAH. Those eggs are disgusting! The whites are runny, the shells are paper thin and they stink.

I had been buying the organic, free range ones and they're better but the other day at the local health food emporium I picked up some from a local ranch. OMG I had forgotten how delicious a REAL egg tastes!!!

Oh and goodbye cruel world. I had, let's see, 14 eggs this past week? No, make that 15. I must be dead.

[CMCM]

Jeez, here they go again with the eggs. It's cyclical, every few years they resurrect the egg hypothesis. Same with coffee/caffeine. Honestly, every time I hear a report that starts with "a new study revealed......" I think of stuff that Gary Taubes discussed about the lousy science. And ONE study really shows nothing at all. Balooey on all of them. There are so many variables, and just once I'd love to see an egg study done with Atkins or other LC eaters. Well, I've had eggs for breakfast every day for over a year now. I'm not dead yet, my health is great, my cholesterol didn't go up from the eggs.

[64dodger]

I must be dead. I have been eating three scrambled eggs with butter for 15 to 20 years.

[Baerdric]

I must be dead. I can only assume we are ALL dead. I eat six eggs a day easily, except now, while doing induction. My Cholesterol is lower than when I was vegan, 50 points lower. I thereby deduce that your cholesterol lowers when you are dead.

[mstares]

I also wonder if those reporting egg consumption are considering the eggs that they get from other parts of their diet. Nearly all baked goods contain eggs. Not to mention rice dishes, mayonnaise, anything battered and fried, or even just pan fried! If you are not low carbing and eating a *regular* north American diet you can easily be eating 6 or 7 eggs a week and never have an egg on a plate in front of you. Unless you are familiar with baking and cooking and especially only ate what you prepared yourself, you'd never know how much egg you consumed. My experience with doctors is that they don't spend a lot of time in the kitchen!

[LessLiz]

What I really found annoying about this story is that it drove down the price of my egg company stock!

[Baerdric]

What I really found annoying about this story is that it drove down the price of my egg company stock!That would be irritating! But just wait, some other study will come out in a few weeks and the price will go back up. Now might be a good time to buy...

[alisbabe]

I was wondering about this yesterday.

Did they control for how the eggs were cooked?

I cannot see how plain boiled or poached eggs would cause any problem whatsoever.

However, at least in the UK, I think it would be unusual for anyone to eat that many eggs without being a bodybuilder or low carber, unless they were eating a fry-up every day.

Most people here fry in vegetable oil which really isn't very healthy.

[amandawood]

One thing I've heard about eggs is that they contain some substance (lutein???) in large quantities which wards off - apparently - advanced macular degeneration. My own experience with eating eggs is that if I start the day with 2 eggs, I feel much better and more energetic the whole day long.

So, what options do I face: feeling more energetic NOW and NOT going blind or dying - possibly - a teeny bit sooner than I might have done anyway? These kinds of "studies" should be banned!

amanda

[pennink]

well guys, just wanted to come by and say goodbye. I had 6 eggs today, tomorrow's brekkie will put me over the edge.

:wave: :cry: it was nice knowing you all!


unbelievably, I survived. So there, study. I have eaten 12 eggs in two days and I'm here to taunt you! nyah.

[ChicknLady]

My girls are deeply offended by this slanderous article! They take their egg-laying very seriously. I'm at six eggs a day now, and still kickin'.

[ruthla]

I wonder if "all causes" included being hit by a buse, shot by ajealous lover, having a Mount Everest accident or choking on a popsicle stick?
No, only choking on eggs. :lol:

[glennette]

No, only choking on eggs. :lol:

If anyone is choking on thier eggs, I'd suggest that they peel or crack them first disposing of the shell. Unless they really are a snake, of course. :lol:

[Zei]

Dying from all causes? I'm picturing these egg lovers who don't bother to fasten their seatbelts and thus die in car crashes more often. It must be the eggs.

[Saskaloon]

According to Wikipedia's entry on CLA, eggs have a high content of CLA which is unaffected by high cooking temperatures:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjugated_linoleic_acid

CLA, also found in meats, is suspected of redistributing fatty acids in the heart and other body organs.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=179685

Of course, then again, I am not a mouse, bird, or research scientist. :D

Besides, I'm sure someone will eventually post more recent studies which show benefits that outweigh/disprove the older findings.

Either way, I'll keep eating my eggs and not take any manufactured CLA supplements. ;)

I will put forth that some keywords here should, at least, be "moderation" and "YMMV".

.\\ark

[paleodude]

What the ??? is dying from all causes supposed to mean anyway?

It means if you walk to the corner market to buy a dozen eggs you could get hit and killed by a speeding taxi.

[feelskinny]

I can't submit a comment because I've been dead for about 5 years from eating too many eggs.


:lol: Good point! :lol:

[amandawood]

According to Wikipedia's entry on CLA, eggs have a high content of CLA which is unaffected by high cooking temperatures:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjugated_linoleic_acid

CLA, also found in meats, is suspected of redistributing fatty acids in the heart and other body organs.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=179685

Of course, then again, I am not a mouse, bird, or research scientist. :D

Besides, I'm sure someone will eventually post more recent studies which show benefits that outweigh/disprove the older findings.

Either way, I'll keep eating my eggs and not take any manufactured CLA supplements. ;)


.\\ark

Check out Barry Groves' website "Second Opinions" for info on CLA. It's mighty good stuff - they gave it to seniors in a study I happened to read (don't ask me where) who were doing workouts, and the CLA supplement (plus something else that is found in dairy/meat) helped them gain more muscle than the control group who didn't take it. Low protein = no muscle gain. High protein = food to build new muscle.

HOpe this puts your mind at rest.

amanda

[feelskinny]

My girls are deeply offended by this slanderous article! They take their egg-laying very seriously.

Tell your girls I appreciate them very, very much :) and just to spite that stupid article and affecting the stock market...I'm goin' to eat 5 eggs/day instead of 2!!

Take that! :thup:

[Saskaloon]

Amanda: Thanks for the response. I did as you suggested and checked-out Groves' Second Opinions site and found a few of his articles on CLA.

I feel it is promising that there are anti-cancer properties to this substance. It's even more interesting that CLA is naturally in meat, eggs, and used to be found in full fat milk/dairy. (Non-fat milk doesn't have it!)

Anyway, I'm still not going to fill-up on "too much of a good thing"; but, daily, I will now enjoy these foods even more.

Have a good weekend!

.\\ark

[amandawood]

Amanda: Thanks for the response. I did as you suggested and checked-out Groves' Second Opinions site and found a few of his articles on CLA.

I feel it is promising that there are anti-cancer properties to this substance. It's even more interesting that CLA is naturally in meat, eggs, and used to be found in full fat milk/dairy. (Non-fat milk doesn't have it!)

Anyway, I'm still not going to fill-up on "too much of a good thing"; but, daily, I will now enjoy these foods even more.

Have a good weekend!

.\\ark

Thank you! You too! On the subject of eggs, though, I'm half regretting having read "The Protein Power Lifeplan" by the good Drs. Eades - there I learnt that my favourite way of eating eggs (as an omelette or scrambled in butter or bacon fat) produces stuff called "lipid peroxides" which are apparently very dangerous... According to them, you should only eat them poached or boiled so that you don't break the yokes. Pity I can't stand poached eggs and boiled eggs I only eat as egg mayo (with mayo made from sunflower oil, which is another no-no in their book).

Sometimes my thirst for knowledge about these dietary issues gives me a bit more information than I really needed...

But I'm not giving up my scrambled eggs or my omelettes - they're the only thing that really keep me going in the morning!!!

Oh, and by the way, another good site to cruise around is the one put out by the Weston A. Price Foundation. If you google the name, you're bound to find it. The other superfood they recommend is liver - must try it out!

amanda

[sunkizzed]

righhhhhhhhhhht...tell that to my 89 year old granny whose sharper than a tack, resiliant, still has black hair (with streaks of grey, she does not use hair dye ever) shes been eating 2-3 eggs a day since she could walk and talk that was back in the 20's people! of course they didnt factor in all the other possible junk SAD people eat, smoking,drinking etc after all it had to be the eggs....damn those eggs!

[LC FP]

I believe fried eggs with relatively intact yolks are OK, too. Whipping up the yolk when scrambling exposes the cholesterol in the yolk to oxygen, when combined with heat causes oxidation of the cholestrol. Just like rancid fish oil, it uses up your antioxidant capacity to repair it. Maybe if you scrambled your eggs in a nitrogen environment, on an electric stove...

[amandawood]

I believe fried eggs with relatively intact yolks are OK, too. Whipping up the yolk when scrambling exposes the cholesterol in the yolk to oxygen, when combined with heat causes oxidation of the cholestrol. Just like rancid fish oil, it uses up your antioxidant capacity to repair it. Maybe if you scrambled your eggs in a nitrogen environment, on an electric stove...

And what about ensuring that you have adequate intake of anti-oxidants to counteract the effect???

I don't have any nitrogen in the house right now...

;) amanda