3 ms·

> Background/Objectives: Egg consumption in adults has been linked with a modestly increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. However, evidence on adults ag

> Background/Objectives: Egg consumption in adults has been linked with a modestly increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. However, evidence on adults aged 65 y+ is limited. So, according to the authors of the study, it has already been established that egg consumption in adults is linked with increased mortality, but they wanted to see if this is still true for those 65 years and older. The study found lower mortality in those who reported eating eggs weekly compared to those who ate eggs never or infrequently. It did not establish causality. So it could be that eggs improve the health of the elderly, or it could be that healthy elderly people are more able to cook for themselves, and people who cook for themselves are more likely to eat eggs. The study does not distinguish between these possibilities.

aradox66 2y ago
The same findings have been made with other animal protein in general, the going theory is that animal foods are protein dense and protect against sarcopenia which is very well established to contribute a lot to all cause mortality in the elderly.
- aradox66 2y ago
  The protective effects against sarcopenia end up outweighing the negative cardiovascular and cancer risks past a certain age
  - nradov 2y ago
    Which negative cardiovascular and cancer risks are you referring to?
    - KempyKolibri 2y ago
      Presumably the increased cardiovascular disease risk from animal protein in general, most evident in processed meat, then red meat, then other sources in order of effect size. Not so sure about cancer risk outside of the colorectal cancer risk associated with processed meat and unprocessed red meat.
      - nradov 2y ago
        Huh? I'm not aware that any such causal risk has been established. At least nothing that meets evidence-based medicine criteria.
        KempyKolibri 2y ago
        What are the criteria you believe are required to establish causal risk between an exposure and an outcome?
        nradov 2y ago
        Something that scores at least a "B" on the AFP Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) would be a good start. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/authors/ebm-toolkit.html?cmpid=afpcon_ndr_pub_ebmtoolkit_van_2459304html2#02 https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/authors/ebm-toolkit.html?cmpid... So far the studies that appear to show a correlation between meat consumption and negative health outcomes have all been barely a step above junk science. We're talking about observational studies with poor controls (healthy subject effect), multiple uncontrolled variables, and small effect sizes. https://peterattiamd.com/meat-consumption-and-diabetes/ https://peterattiamd.com/meat-consumption-and-diabetes/ https://peterattiamd.com/donlayman/ https://peterattiamd.com/donlayman/
        KempyKolibri 2y ago
        I would say that the evidence on red and processed meat and CVD and CRC is at least a “B”, so we’re meeting your goalposts here. When we look at the totality of the evidence via meta analysis, we see effect sizes in the 10-20% range for IHD. If 20% change in one of the leading killers in the western world is “small” to you then fair enough, but I’d suspect that’s a fairly proprietary use of the word that wouldn’t accord with what most people mean when they use it. I’m not sure what variables you think are uncontrolled in these studies, you’ll have to be specific about which uncontrolled variables you think are having an effect. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2021.1949575#d1e275 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2021.1...
- stubish 2y ago
  It seems almost impossible to get the elderly to eat enough protein. Even those aware that they should be changing their diet. A lifetime of habit and greatly diminished appetite means pushing protein dense foods. I've very grateful for studies such as this, to help with my thankfully scientifically minded seniors. If you can only fit in a spoonful or two, you have to make it count.
  - adrian_b 2y ago
    Adding and mixing some protein powder, e.g. whey protein concentrate, into various kinds of foods can enrich them greatly in protein, with a very small increase in bulk, so one can have an adequate protein intake without eating much.
snailmailstare 2y ago
This answer seems plausible, but I also see no control for people who eat eggs through their entire life being more likely to die prematurely or those taking measures like not eating eggs being deeply unhealthy.

aradox66 2y ago

The same findings have been made with other animal protein in general, the going theory is that animal foods are protein dense and protect against sarcopenia which is very well established to contribute a lot to all cause mortality in the elderly.

aradox66 2y ago
The protective effects against sarcopenia end up outweighing the negative cardiovascular and cancer risks past a certain age
- nradov 2y ago
  Which negative cardiovascular and cancer risks are you referring to?
  - KempyKolibri 2y ago
    Presumably the increased cardiovascular disease risk from animal protein in general, most evident in processed meat, then red meat, then other sources in order of effect size. Not so sure about cancer risk outside of the colorectal cancer risk associated with processed meat and unprocessed red meat.
    - nradov 2y ago
      Huh? I'm not aware that any such causal risk has been established. At least nothing that meets evidence-based medicine criteria.
      - KempyKolibri 2y ago
        What are the criteria you believe are required to establish causal risk between an exposure and an outcome?
        nradov 2y ago
        Something that scores at least a "B" on the AFP Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) would be a good start. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/authors/ebm-toolkit.html?cmpid=afpcon_ndr_pub_ebmtoolkit_van_2459304html2#02 https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/authors/ebm-toolkit.html?cmpid... So far the studies that appear to show a correlation between meat consumption and negative health outcomes have all been barely a step above junk science. We're talking about observational studies with poor controls (healthy subject effect), multiple uncontrolled variables, and small effect sizes. https://peterattiamd.com/meat-consumption-and-diabetes/ https://peterattiamd.com/meat-consumption-and-diabetes/ https://peterattiamd.com/donlayman/ https://peterattiamd.com/donlayman/
        KempyKolibri 2y ago
        I would say that the evidence on red and processed meat and CVD and CRC is at least a “B”, so we’re meeting your goalposts here. When we look at the totality of the evidence via meta analysis, we see effect sizes in the 10-20% range for IHD. If 20% change in one of the leading killers in the western world is “small” to you then fair enough, but I’d suspect that’s a fairly proprietary use of the word that wouldn’t accord with what most people mean when they use it. I’m not sure what variables you think are uncontrolled in these studies, you’ll have to be specific about which uncontrolled variables you think are having an effect. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2021.1949575#d1e275 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2021.1...
stubish 2y ago
It seems almost impossible to get the elderly to eat enough protein. Even those aware that they should be changing their diet. A lifetime of habit and greatly diminished appetite means pushing protein dense foods. I've very grateful for studies such as this, to help with my thankfully scientifically minded seniors. If you can only fit in a spoonful or two, you have to make it count.
- adrian_b 2y ago
  Adding and mixing some protein powder, e.g. whey protein concentrate, into various kinds of foods can enrich them greatly in protein, with a very small increase in bulk, so one can have an adequate protein intake without eating much.

snailmailstare 2y ago

This answer seems plausible, but I also see no control for people who eat eggs through their entire life being more likely to die prematurely or those taking measures like not eating eggs being deeply unhealthy.