China ranked the highest in egg consumption per capita with 20.8 kg followed by Mexico and Japan, based on a comparison of 161 countries in 2019, according to the Helgi Library. Besides China is the country with the highest number of diabetics worldwide, with around 141 million people suffering from the disease. By the year 2045, it is predicted that China will have around 174 million people with diabetes, according to the Statista December 2021 report.
According to worldpopulationreview.com, 11 per cent of the population of 1.448 billion in China are suffering from Diabetes as of 2021 against 8.8 per cent in 2011. Hence there is a lot of interest among researchers to understand if there is any relation between egg consumption and diabetes among the Chinese population. Multiple studies are being taken up each year to know the correlation.
As per recent studies egg consumption has been recognised as a possible risk factor for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The observational studies have reported the associations between egg consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes, but the findings have remained inconsistent. Studies have also found that consuming eggs for breakfast is known to control the blood sugar levels of diabetes patients throughout the day.
A study undertaken by Cambridge University in 2020 – The association between egg consumption and diabetes was also inconclusive. The University aimed to examine the association between long-term egg consumption and its trajectory with diabetes in Chinese adults. A total of 8545 adults aged ≥18 years old who attended the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1991 to 2009 were included in this analysis. Diabetes was diagnosed based on fasting blood glucose in 2009.
Logistic regression was used to examine the association. The mean age of the study population was 50·9 years. About 11·1 per cent had diabetes in 2009. Egg consumption nearly doubled in 2009 from 16 g/d in 1991. Three trajectory groups of egg consumption were identified. Compared with group 1 (30·7 per cent, low baseline intake and slight increase), both group 2 (62·2 per cent, medium baseline intake and increase) and group 3 (7·1 per cent, high baseline intake and decrease) were associated with an increase or for diabetes. The results of the study suggested that higher egg consumption was positively associated with the risk of diabetes in Chinese adults.
Sharing her contradictory views on the study, Subhasree Ray, Doctoral Scholar in Food Science and Nutrition, Certified Diabetes Educator from International Diabetes Federation, Clinical and Public Health Nutrition Specialist said, “First, the study is longitudinal and not a randomised control trial to prove a cause-and-effect relationship between eggs and increased risk of diabetes. Second, the study used a 3-day-24-hour dietary recall method to collect data that often-produced misleading conclusions as respondents might provide incomplete information. Third, the transition in dietary habits of the Chinese cohort from 1991 to 2009 didn’t account for consumption of other foods including refined carbs, ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks, etc., which are directly linked to insulin resistance and elevated risk of type 2 diabetes.”
She added, “A Japanese prospective study found no association between egg intake and type 2 diabetes risk among 27, 248 men and 36, 218 women. Similarly, a Swedish study in 2016 found no elevated risk of type 2 diabetes in 39,610 men who consumed 1 to 5 or more eggs/week for 15 years. Well-designed intervention studies are limited to associated egg consumption with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Most of the studies that reported an increased risk of diabetes in long-term consumption of eggs are either epidemiological, population-based prospective studies or longitudinal studies that failed to include the contribution of other food groups on the manifestation of type 2 diabetes.”
Growing concern
Rise of diabetes is a growing concern in the world, where many Universities, companies are trying to analyse the increased risk of developing diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes is highly prevalent and is associated with high healthcare costs, therefore, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors that may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Study led by the University of South Australia shows that excess egg consumption can increase your risk of diabetes. Conducted in partnership with the China Medical University, and Qatar University, the longitudinal study (1991 to 2009) led by the University of South Australia is the first to assess egg consumption in a large sample of Chinese adults.
The study found that people who regularly consumed one or more eggs per day (equivalent to 50 grams) increased their risk of diabetes by 60 per cent.
Epidemiologist and public health expert, Dr Ming Li, Research fellow, University of South Australia, commented, “The rise of diabetes is a growing concern, especially in China where changes to the traditional Chinese diet are impacting health.” “Diet is a known and modifiable factor that contributes to the onset of Type 2 diabetes, so understanding the range of dietary factors that might impact the growing prevalence of the disease is important,” Dr Li says.
She added, “While the association between eating eggs and diabetes is often debated, this study has aimed to assess people’s long-term egg consumption of eggs and their risk of developing diabetes, as determined by fasting blood glucose.”
What needs to be done?
As excessive egg consumption has been linked to many health problems like higher risk of heart disease, risk of colon, rectal and prostate etc. We need to find out ways in which these egg-related controversies do not affect out health, for which eating one egg a day is recommended by the American Heart Association.
As concluded by Subhasree, “Eggs can be included in a healthy, balanced diet plan designed for people living with diabetes. However, moderation is the key. The amount of egg per day or per meal is individual specific, aligned to total protein need, and best to be determined by a nutrition expert.”
Promotion of appropriate dietary intake and lifestyles for the prevention and management of diabetes should be taken care of. Adding to it, Dr C Balachandran, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, in a recent workshop stated, “Per capita consumption in India is far lower than the recommendations of the ICMR. The council has recommended consuming 10.5 kilos of poultry meat and 180 eggs per annum. Each person consumes just 3.5 kilos of meat and 30 eggs. This needs to be improved.”
Some findings suggest that high levels of egg consumption (daily) may be associated with a risk of type 2 diabetes. However, there are no national guidelines that can add credibility to these findings. Thereby, there is a need for scientifically sound guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Nutrition in India.
Many studies conducted so far on healthy people showed no effect of daily egg intake on blood cholesterol levels. The National Health & Medical Research Council’s Australian Dietary Guidelines advise that consumption of eggs every day is not associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. It’s far more important to ensure you’re eating a diet low in saturated fats.
Pooja Yadav
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