Association between egg consumption and major and minor ischemia changes on electrocardiogram: A population-based study.

Background: Eggs, while nutrient-rich, have high cholesterol content. The link between egg consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains debated. This study investigates how egg intake correlates with minor and major electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, which serve as potential indicators of CVD.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 5,928 participants without cardiovascular disease (CVD), aged between 35 and 65 years, were included. Dietary egg consumption was evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The Minnesota coding system was employed to identify minor and major ischemic abnormalities on ECG. Odds ratios (ORs) for major and minor ischemic patterns across different egg consumption categories were calculated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Using several statistical models, this study showed that higher egg consumption was associated with lower odds of isolated major ECG abnormalities in men, but not in women. In the fully adjusted model, consuming more than four eggs per week, compared to the lowest category (<1/week), was correlated with a 40% decrease in the odds of major ischemic changes on ECG in men (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.39-0.93). Regarding minor ischemic abnormalities, there was no significant association with egg consumption in either women or men.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a gender-specific effect of egg consumption on the presence of major ischemic changes on ECG. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and to inform tailored dietary guidelines for different populations.