Cover Media
People who eat eggs on a daily basis are at a significant risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study has suggested.
However you like your eggs, consuming the protein-rich food can increase your risk of the condition by a whopping 60 per cent, researchers from the University of South Australia discovered.
The study, in partnership with the China Medical University and Qatar University, focused on data collected from a large sample of adults in China, and followed them from 1991 to 2009.
Those who regularly ate one or more eggs per day increased their risk of diabetes by 60 per cent, with more women developing the condition than men.
The researchers found that during the study, egg consumption in China almost doubled, and the country is facing a potential health crisis with the prevalence of diabetes now exceeding 11 per cent, way above the global average of 8.5 per cent.
Epidemiologist Dr Ming Li said the rise of diabetes is a growing concern, especially since people in China have shunned a traditional diet of grains and vegetables in favour of more processed foods in recent years, and wants more research to identify – and treat – the problem.
"To beat diabetes, a multi-faceted approach is needed that not only encompasses research, but also a clear set of guidelines to help inform and guide the public. This study is one step towards that long-term goal," Li explained.
