Fact Check: Viral ‘eating eggs daily causes heart attack’ claim contradicts current science
Videos on Instagram by supposed doctors claim that eating eggs every day leads to heart disease
By - Newsmeter Network
Claim:Some doctors on Instagram have warned people against eating eggs daily, as a toxic amount of cholesterol can lead to heart disease.
Fact:The claim contradicts the latest science. Recent research shows dietary cholesterol from eggs has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels.
Hyderabad: Multiple Instagram videos have gone viral, warning people against eating eggs, claiming they cause heart attacks due to high cholesterol content.
An Instagram user called drdstiwari posted a video stating: “Whether it’s Sunday or Monday, people say you should eat eggs every day, but this won’t work anymore. I say, if you want to invite death early, then eat eggs daily. Friends, the renowned Nobel Prize winner Dr Michael Brown has proven through his deep research that the toxic amount of cholesterol found in eggs raises blood pressure, increases obesity, raises cholesterol levels, and one day leads to heart disease. Blockages keep growing, and then finally a heart attack occurs.”
The user continued: “Friends, one egg contains around 500 to 600 mg of toxic cholesterol, while our daily requirement is only 10 mg. So, if you eat eggs every day and 500–600 mg of cholesterol enters your blood, the blood becomes thicker, blockages grow rapidly, and one day a heart attack is certain. And when eggs are fried, roasted or cooked in oil, their cholesterol content increases many times. Therefore, if you want to invite death and cause a heart attack, eat eggs daily.”
Another Instagram user, Dr Shintani, claimed in a video message: “One egg yolk contains 187 mg of cholesterol, which is more than the 177 mg found in half a pound of steak. But is the cholesterol in eggs actually bad for you? Using a rough estimate that each 1% rise in cholesterol leads to a 2% rise in cardiovascular disease risk, this translates to roughly a 12% increase in cardiovascular risk.”
Dr Shintani referenced a study: “Interestingly, a study of 29,615 people, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that eating one egg daily was associated with a 12% increase in heart attack and stroke risk, exactly as predicted by nutritional calculations.”
Another user warned specifically about egg yolk: “Egg yolk because in one egg yolk there are 180 to 200 mg of cholesterol, so if your cholesterol is already high, then it will go up more because of egg yolk consumption.”
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that these claims misrepresent current scientific understanding. Recent research shows dietary cholesterol from eggs has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels, and the body produces most of its cholesterol internally.
Misattribution to Nobel Laureate
Firstly, the claim attributes findings to Nobel Prize winner Dr Michael S Brown.
Dr Brown, along with Joseph Goldstein, won the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how cells take up LDL cholesterol via the LDL receptor and how this regulates cholesterol metabolism. Their work laid the foundation for understanding familial hypercholesterolemia and for the development of statin drugs.
However, there is no clear evidence that Dr Michael S Brown has specifically claimed that ‘eggs cause blood pressure’ or that eggs directly cause high blood pressure. His work and public comments focus on cholesterol metabolism and LDL receptors, not on a simple claim that eggs raise blood pressure or directly cause heart attacks.
What medical experts say about the consumption of eggs
Dr Alok Chopra, a Cardiologist and Specialist in Functional Medicine and Disease Reversal, challenged the fundamental premise of the claim in a video shared from his Instagram account.
“Egg white on its own is actually an inflammatory protein, so eating it alone is not good for our health. It is only when the egg white is combined with the yolk that it becomes a complete, whole food,” the doctor said.
He addressed the cholesterol concern directly: “Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease. That may sound surprising; it surprises many people. Cholesterol is produced in our body; in fact, about 85% of it is made internally, and nature would not design something inherently harmful. Cholesterol also performs around 16 major functions in the body. So how can it be considered bad?”
‘No correlation between eating eggs and increasing cholesterol’
Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar provided a clear medical perspective: “As a doctor and neurologist, I can tell you that there is no proven correlation between eating eggs and increasing cholesterol levels. This is because dietary cholesterol has very little impact on blood cholesterol; nearly 80% of the cholesterol in our body is synthesised by the liver. Therefore, one can safely consume one to two eggs daily, without worrying about increasing cholesterol.”
Dr Kumar emphasised the importance of eating whole eggs: “When I say eggs, I mean whole eggs, including the yolk. What actually raises cholesterol are saturated fats, trans fats, lack of dietary fibre, excessive carbohydrate intake, a sedentary lifestyle and overweight or obesity. If you manage these factors well, you can safely include eggs in your diet.”
He noted the nutritional benefits: “Moreover, eggs are nutritionally rich, often called a superfood, because they are a good source of high-quality protein, vitamin B12, choline and antioxidants.”
What recent research says about eggs’ impact on blood cholesterol
While eggs contain dietary cholesterol, recent research shows this has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels because the body produces about 80-85% of its cholesterol internally.
1. It is saturated fats, not egg cholesterol
A July 2025 randomised crossover trial published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tested two eggs daily for five weeks in healthy adults.
The study titled ‘Impact of dietary cholesterol from eggs and saturated fat on LDL cholesterol levels: a randomised cross-over study’ found that eggs improved cholesterol profiles, with LDL dropping by an average of 5.7 mg/dL compared to an egg-free diet.
The research attributed cholesterol rises to saturated fats, not egg cholesterol.
Participants on the egg-inclusive diet showed no LDL increase and better overall lipids, challenging the myth that eggs directly spike blood cholesterol. The study found that saturated fat intake correlated with LDL rises, while dietary cholesterol from eggs did not.
2. Safety in moderation when paired with balanced diet
A September 2025 study examined eggs in a heart-healthy DASH diet context.
Researchers gave adults with high lipids two eggs daily for eight weeks, measuring no compromise in LDL, endothelial function, blood pressure or other cardio-metabolic markers. This reinforces eggs’ safety in moderation for at-risk groups when paired with balanced eating.
According to medical experts, the factors that actually raise blood cholesterol include saturated fats, trans fats, lack of dietary fibre, excessive carbohydrate intake, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity. Dietary cholesterol from eggs has minimal impact because the liver regulates cholesterol production based on dietary intake.
