Eggs daily don't raise diabetes risk for Koreans, study finds

Contrary to concerns that high egg consumption might increase diabetes risk, a large-scale study of Korean adults has found no direct association. The research, involving over 90,000 participants, indicates that individuals consuming three or more eggs per day did not exhibit a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes.

The study, conducted by researchers from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine's Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, followed 91,005 Korean adults who underwent health check-ups between 2011 and 2012. Over an average follow-up period of 6.9 years, the participants were analyzed based on their egg intake, divided into six groups ranging from less than one egg per week to more than three eggs per day. The findings remained consistent across different age groups and genders.

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In the U.S., eggs are often consumed with high-calorie and high-saturated-fat foods like butter and bacon. Conversely, Koreans often consume eggs with vegetable side dishes and Korean meals, so it is presumed that eggs themselves do not independently increase the risk of diabetes.

Researchers noted that this result differs from some U.S. studies that have reported an increased diabetes risk with higher egg consumption. They hypothesize that the difference may lie in dietary patterns. In the U.S., eggs are often consumed with high-calorie, high-saturated-fat foods like butter and bacon. In contrast, Koreans tend to eat eggs as part of a balanced meal with vegetables and traditional Korean dishes. This suggests that eggs themselves may not independently raise diabetes risk when consumed within a healthier overall diet.

However, the study authors cautioned that these findings do not imply that eating more eggs is inherently beneficial. They emphasized that overall lifestyle management, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight, remains crucial for diabetes prevention. The study, published in the Yonsei Medical Journal, aligns with the recommendations of major global nutrition organizations that do not consider egg consumption harmful for general health.

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Through this large-scale, long-term follow-up study, we have confirmed that egg consumption does not increase the risk of developing diabetes in Korean adults.