Daily Intake of Egg Reduces Stroke Risk by 12 Percent

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Highlights

• Eggs are a low-cost and nutrient-dense food that provides essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein.
• Eggs have been eliminated in the diet to reduce dietary cholesterol to prevent coronary heart disease and stroke.
• A meta-analysis found that consumption of one egg a day can reduce the risk of stroke by 12 percent.

The relationship between dietary cholesterol and heart health has been studied for decades. Eggs are a significant contributor to dietary cholesterol and studies have been conducted on egg consumption and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. A new meta-analysis shows that eggs are associated with a 12 percent reduction in the risk of stroke.

Egg Consumption and Stroke Risk

Eggs are a low-cost and nutrient-dense food that provides high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, choline, vitamins, and minerals. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies conducted between the years 1982 and 2015, evaluated the relationships between egg consumption and CHD and stroke.

‘Consumption of one egg a day may contribute to a decreased risk of stroke, and daily egg intake does not appear to be associated with risk of coronary heart disease.’

The study involved a total of 276,000 subjects with CHD and 308,000 subjects with stroke. The findings of the review show that consumption of one egg a day had no association with CHD, but reduced the risk of stroke by 12 percent.

Dr. Dominik Alexander of the EpidStat Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, who conducted the review, noted that mechanistic work is needed to understand the link between egg intake and stroke risk. "Eggs do have many positive nutritional attributes, including antioxidants, which have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. They are also an excellent source of protein, which has been related to lower blood pressure." One large egg provides about 6 grams of high-quality protein, vitamins A, D, and E and antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin.

The research supports the recently-released 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that placed no daily limit on dietary cholesterol and included eggs among lean protein choices. The research also adds evidence on a 2015 meta-analysis that dietary cholesterol have no association with cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and stroke.

"This systematic review and meta-analysis underscores prior research, showing the lack of a relationship between eggs and heart disease and now suggests a possible beneficial effect of eating eggs on risk of stroke," Tia M. Rains, PhD, Interim Executive Director of the Egg Nutrition Center, the scientific research arm of the American Egg Board.

The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Stroke affects the blood vessels leading to and within the brain. The two kinds of stroke are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. The most common type is the ischemic stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood vessel in the brain is either blocked by a clot or burst. Stroke is the fifth most common cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.

Stroke Prevention Diet

A stroke-prevention diet helps lower the risk factors for a stroke such as blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

• Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day in the form of a salad.
• Opt for lean meats without skin or fat and avoid bacon, and red meat.
• Oily fishes such as salmon and trout contain omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
• Choose whole-grain foods over refined products for essential nutrients and fiber.
• Limit the intake of saturated and trans fats by preferring low-fat milk
• Avoid butter, margarine and lard in cooking, instead, use canola and olive oil.
• Cut down on sodium by substituting with herbs and spices.
• Reduce the intake of added sugars such as white sugar, brown sugar, and molasses.

References:

1. Meta Analysis of Egg Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke - (https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27710205)
2. Eating a Stroke-Prevention Diet - (https:dignityhealth.org/articles/Eating-a-Stroke-Prevention-Diet-How-Food-Can-Reduce-Your-Risk)
3. Eating Well After a Stroke - (http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/stroke/hic_Eating_Well_After_a_Stroke)

Source: Medindia

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