Do eggs raise bad cholesterol?

CONFIRMED
178+ in PubMed PubMed results Last checked April 2026
Yes, eggs do raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, but the increases are generally modest.
Multiple high-quality meta-analyses consistently show that egg consumption raises LDL cholesterol by approximately 5-8 mg/dL compared to low-egg diets. However, eggs also raise HDL (good) cholesterol, and one recent study suggests saturated fat may have a greater impact on LDL levels than dietary cholesterol from eggs. The clinical significance of these modest LDL increases remains debated.
Overall confidence
85%
RCT quality
80%
Expert consensus
90%
RCTs found
178+ in PubMed
Largest trial
3,601,401 participants across studies
Date range
2000–2025
Effect size
small
Key studies
Nutrients meta-analysis · 2020
Egg consumption increased LDL-C by 8.14 mg/dL in healthy populations
PubMed 32635569 ↗
J Am Coll Nutr meta-analysis · 2018
Egg consumption increased LDL-C by 5.55 mg/dL across 28 studies
PubMed 29111915 ↗
Am J Clin Nutr cross-over trial · 2025
Saturated fat, not dietary cholesterol, was the primary driver of LDL increases
PubMed 40339906 ↗
Caveats
The LDL increases are modest (5-8 mg/dL) and eggs simultaneously raise beneficial HDL cholesterol. Recent evidence suggests saturated fat intake may be more important than dietary cholesterol for LDL levels, and the overall cardiovascular impact depends on the complete dietary pattern.

People also ask

How much do eggs raise LDL cholesterol?
Studies show modest increases of 5-8 mg/dL compared to low-egg diets
Do eggs also raise good cholesterol?
Yes, eggs raise HDL (good) cholesterol by about 2 mg/dL
Is dietary cholesterol worse than saturated fat?
Recent evidence suggests saturated fat has a greater impact on LDL than dietary cholesterol
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BustMyMyth synthesizes published RCT evidence. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov.