Organic Egg Consumption: A Systematic Review of Aspects Related to Human Health

Abstract

Consumption of organic foods has increased recently, but evidence about their potential health benefits is still limited. This systematic review aims to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the association between organic egg consumption and human health. We searched for peer-reviewed articles on this subject indexed in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases from the inception date to April 13, 2022. This review was based on PRISMA guideline recommendations. Three studies on organic egg consumption in humans were included. After 8 weeks of consuming organic eggs, one randomized crossover trial found that participants had higher serum concentrations of the beta-carotene lutein compared to the period without consuming organic eggs. Moreover, in a cross-sectional study with nationally representative data from Americans over the age of 50, it was found that consumption of organic eggs was associated with lower levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and cystine C compared with conventional eggs. Finally, in a cohort of children aged 0 to 2 years, no significant association was observed between consuming organic eggs and the risk of eczema. In conclusion, the evidence about the potential benefits of organic egg consumption and human health is promising but still requires further research. A human research agenda is proposed based on laboratory studies pointing out that organic eggs have a more desirable nutritional profile than conventional eggs.

Association of egg intake with risks of cardiometabolic factors among adults in China

“…Evidence for the relationship between egg consumption and human health is controversial, with some studies finding a reduction in the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and levels of inflammatory factors, but no association in others (e.g., cancer, CVD, etc.) ( 8 , 9 ). Eggs were found to be negatively associated with MetS in a prospective study in Korea and a cross-sectional study in China ( 7 , 10 ), while a positive association was found in an Iranian cohort ( 11 ), and no significant association was found in an Australian and another Korean cohort ( 12 , 13 ).…”