Regular egg consumption boosts growth in children and prevents growth disorders

Physicians are studying the effects of eating eggs in young children
Eggs are very popular with many people, because they have a very high nutritional value and additionally provide high-quality protein. Researchers have now found that consuming eggs in small children leads to significantly increased growth. In addition, stunting is reduced by 47 percent.

The doctors at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis found in their study that the consumption of eggs protects small children from stunting and leads to increased growth. The doctors published a press release on the results of their study.

For a long time people were warned against the daily consumption of eggs. Physicians have now found out that regular consumption of eggs protects small children from stunting and leads to increased growth. (Image: iprachenko / fotolia.com)

Eggs are affordable and easily accessible
The consumption of eggs leads to different health benefits, especially for young children. Eggs protect against emerging growth disorders and lead to significantly improved growth. The best part is that eggs are affordable and actually accessible to everyone, says author Lora Iannotti. The consumption of eggs reduces growth disturbances by about 47 percent. This effect was much larger compared to values ​​found in previous studies, the experts explain.

Eggs are much healthier in themselves than their reputation suggests for years
Eggs are a very good source of nutrients for growth and development in young children, the researchers say. Eggs contain a lot of high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids, but also a lot of cholesterol. In general, one could still say: eggs are much healthier than their reputation has suggested for years. The new study has now found that eggs have the potential to help reduce childhood growth problems in the world.

Physicians examined children in Ecuador for their study
The research team conducted a randomized, controlled study in Ecuador in 2015. There, one egg a day was given to children at the age of six to new months for a total of six months. The children in the control group did not receive eggs during this time, explains author and professor Lora Iannotti.

Regular consumption of eggs leads to less underweight
The investigation found that eating eggs increases the average size and weight of children. In addition, there was a significantly reduced prevalence of growth disorders, which was about 47 percent. Underweight also occurred much less often in these children (probability reduced by 74 percent).

Subjects consumed more eggs but less sugar
The children in the treatment group showed a higher intake of eggs and in addition a reduced intake of sugar-sweetened foods compared to the control group, explain the scientists. "We were really surprised at how effective this intervention was," says author Iannotti.

Eggs are also relatively easily available in most countries
Eggs contain a lot of nutrients, are packaged safely by nature and are more readily available in resource-poor countries, compared to other complementary or specially fortified foods, the researchers explain.

Eggs are beneficial and recommended source of nutrition for children in developing countries
Our study carefully monitored allergic reactions to eggs, but no incident was observed by nurses or reported during weekly home visits, says the expert Iannotti. Eggs seem to be a beneficial and recommended source of nutrition for children in developing countries. (As)