Cholesterol: experts say eggs may not raise LDL when saturated fat is low

A July 2025 trial reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that saturated fat, rather than dietary cholesterol from eggs, was linked to rises in LDL cholesterol; participants who ate two eggs daily saw LDL fall when their overall diet was low in saturated fat.

A study published in the July 2025 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and discussed by Harvard Health has prompted renewed attention to how eggs relate to cholesterol. The trial involved adults with elevated LDL cholesterol and compared different diets. Researchers reported that saturated fat intake showed a stronger association with LDL changes than dietary cholesterol from eggs. The findings were described alongside previous studies and commentary noting eggs’ nutritional components. Key findings: - The trial tested 48 adults with high LDL who rotated through three distinct five-week diets. - Across study groups, increases in LDL cholesterol were linked to saturated fat intake rather than dietary cholesterol from eggs. - Participants who ate two eggs per day experienced a decrease in LDL when the rest of their diet was low in saturated fat. - The report noted LDL-raising fats are commonly found in beef, lamb, pork, processed meats, butter, cheese, ice cream, and palm oil. - The study and related literature described eggs as high in dietary cholesterol but low in saturated fat and cited observational studies and randomized trials that did not find adverse effects of egg consumption on blood lipids or cardiovascular risk; eggs were also noted as sources of nutrients such as vitamins A, D and B12, choline, lutein and zeaxanthin. Summary: The research highlights saturated fat as a clearer driver of LDL changes than egg-derived dietary cholesterol, and it reports that modest egg intake coincided with lower LDL when saturated fat was limited. The study places eggs in a broader nutritional context, noting bioavailable nutrients in yolks and mixed findings across prior studies. Undetermined at this time.