Association between egg intake and blood pressure in the USA: The INTERnational study on MAcro/micronutrients and blood Pressure (INTERMAP)

Thanh Huyen T. Vu*, Linda Van Horn, Martha L. Daviglus, Queenie Chan, Alan R. Dyer, Victor W. Zhong, Rachel Gibson, Paul Elliott, Jeremiah Stamler

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate associations of egg intake with blood pressure (BP) and the role of dietary variables and other macro- and micro-nutrients in the association. Design: We used cross-sectional data for the USA as part of the INTERnational study on MAcro/micronutrients and blood Pressure (INTERMAP). INTERMAP was surveyed between 1996 and 1999, including four 24-h dietary recalls, two 24-h urine collections and eight measurements of systolic BP and diastolic BP (SBP, DBP). Average egg intake (g/d) was calculated. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association between egg intake (per each 50 g/d or per quintile) and BP. The roles of dietary variables and other macro- and micro-nutrients in this association were also investigated. Setting: In the USA. Participants: In total, 2195 US INTERMAP men and women aged 40-59 years. Results: Participants were 50 % female, 54 % non-Hispanic White and 16 % non-Hispanic Black. Mean egg intake (sd) in men and women was 30·4(29·8) and 21·6(20·5) g/d, respectively. Adjusting for demographics, socio-economics, lifestyle and urinary Na:K excretion ratios, we found non-linear associations with BP in non-obese women (P-quadratic terms: 0·004 for SBP and 0·035 for DBP).The associations remained after adjusting for dietary variables, macro/micro nutrients or minerals. Dietary cholesterol was highly correlated with egg intake and may factor in the association. No association was found in obese women and in obese or non-obese men. Conclusion: Egg intake was non-linearly associated with SBP and DBP in non-obese women, but not in obese women or men. Underlying mechanisms require additional study regarding the role of obesity and sex.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6272-6280
Number of pages9
JournalPublic Health Nutrition
Volume24
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2 2021

Funding

The INTERMAP Study (International Study on Macro/ Micronutrients and Blood Pressure) is supported by grants R01-HL35486 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD).

Keywords

  • Blood pressure
  • Diet
  • Egg intake
  • Hypertension

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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