Eggs and Heart Health: Cholesterol Rises but Links to Disease Are Limited
Feb 28th 2026
A review of trials and population studies shows eggs raise serum cholesterol yet have limited evidence of increasing cardiovascular disease and may improve some lipid and antioxidant markers.
- Eggs are nutrient dense and provide lutein and zeaxanthin that support antioxidant defenses and eye health.
- Meta-analyses report that egg consumption can increase serum cholesterol levels.
- Most clinical and observational studies find limited or no clear increase in atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease risk from egg intake.
- Short-term trials show adding one egg per day can raise HDL cholesterol and reduce oxidized LDL.
- A Japanese angiography study found no association between egg intake and coronary artery disease, and 3 to 4 eggs per week was linked to lower multi-vessel disease in patients not on lipid-lowering drugs.
- Global ecological analyses associate higher egg consumption with lower ischemic heart disease incidence and mortality, but ecological data cannot establish causation.