Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract only checked I-EGG-04 standard review
Eggs and heart disease: dose-response review
Egg consumption and cardiovascular risk: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.
Overview
Godos J et al.. Eur J Nutr 2021 · PMID 32865658 · DOI 10.1007/s00394-020-02345-7
Moderate egg intake was not linked to more heart disease; a possible higher heart failure risk at 1+ egg/day.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Is egg consumption associated with CVD, CHD, stroke and heart failure?
- How was the study done?
Dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies with GRADE
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
~2 million; 85,053 CHD, 25,103 stroke, 7,536 HF, 147,124 CVD cases; 39 studies, ~2 million individuals
- What was actually found?
4 eggs/week: CVD SRR 0.95 (0.90-1.00); up to 1 egg/day CVD incidence 0.94 (0.89-0.99); CHD decreased up to 2 eggs/week; stroke no association; heart failure 1 egg/day SRR 1.15 (1.02-1.30). GRADE low for all but stroke (moderate).
- How large was the observed effect?
Random-effects dose-response
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Moderation seems fine; very high intake uncertain.
- What are the study's limitations?
Overlap with other meta-analyses; Low certainty
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Mostly contradicts, with one caveat.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Low certainty evidence.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Godos J et al.
- Journal
- Eur J Nutr
- Year
- 2021
- Identifier
- PMID 32865658 DOI 10.1007/s00394-020-02345-7
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Authors declare no conflict of interest
2. Research question
Is egg consumption associated with CVD, CHD, stroke and heart failure?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies with GRADE
- Population
39 studies, ~2 million individuals
- Country
Multinational
- Period
Search to April 2020
- Sample size
~2 million; 85,053 CHD, 25,103 stroke, 7,536 HF, 147,124 CVD cases
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Prospective studies
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Egg intake
- Comparator
No consumption
- Endpoints
CVD, CHD, stroke, heart failure
- Statistical methods
Random-effects dose-response
5. Actual results
- Results
4 eggs/week: CVD SRR 0.95 (0.90-1.00); up to 1 egg/day CVD incidence 0.94 (0.89-0.99); CHD decreased up to 2 eggs/week; stroke no association; heart failure 1 egg/day SRR 1.15 (1.02-1.30). GRADE low for all but stroke (moderate).
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
No conclusive evidence on the role of eggs in CVD risk; possible protection at moderate weekly intake and possible increased heart failure risk with high regular intake.
6. Strengths
- GRADE rating
- Dose-response
7. Weaknesses
- Overlap with other meta-analyses
- Low certainty
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Simplified.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Small effects; borderline CIs.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
C-EGG-04 (mixed: heart failure signal).
11. Independent contrary findings
Overlaps with I-EGG-01.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
High.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Mixed; no strong harm signal except possible heart failure.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | mixed |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Heart failure.