Daily Egg Consumption Increases Risk For Diabetes

A new study in Diabetes Care found that eating eggs may raise the risk for developing type 2 diabetes:¹

"These data suggest that high levels of egg consumption (daily) are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in men and women."

The data came from two large cohorts, the Physicians' Health Study I (1982–2007) that included 20,703 men, and the Women's Health Study (1992–2007) that included 36,295 women.

Men experienced an increased risk for diabetes of:

• 18% for 2-4 eggs/week
  
• 46% for 5-6 eggs/week
  
• 58% for 7 or more eggs/week

Women experienced an increased risk for diabetes of:

• 19% for 2-4 eggs/week
  
• 18% for 5-6 eggs/week
  
• 77% for 7 or more eggs/week

An earlier study from May of this year that used the same Physicians' Health Study I cohort found that men who ate more eggs had a higher risk of dying during a 20-year follow-up than men who ate fewer eggs. For men who also had diabetes, the increased risk rose from 25% to 200%.
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¹Egg Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Men and Women, Diabetes Care, published online ahead of print November 18, 2008.