Egg protein and health across the lifespan
What it found
Egg protein is easy to digest and may help with child growth, muscle health, appetite and weight, and protection against some diseases.
The evidence comes from studies in people, animals and lab tests.
What they found
Studies in people
Malnutrition in children
In children in Ecuador who ate one egg per day for 6 months, stunting was reduced by 47% and underweight by 74%. Egg protein may also help prevent kwashiorkor and improve growth.
Muscle health and strength
In young men doing resistance training, 20 g of egg protein maximized muscle protein synthesis. Whole eggs led to greater strength gains than egg whites in some studies.
Sarcopenia in older adults
Older adults who ate eggs as part of a higher-protein diet preserved more muscle mass during weight loss. An egg breakfast improved nitrogen balance by reducing muscle breakdown.
Appetite and weight
In a study of 25 men, an egg breakfast led to lower ghrelin and less eating at the next meal compared to a bagel breakfast. In a weight loss trial, the egg breakfast group lost more weight and body fat.
Studies in people and animals
Infection and chronic disease
Egg proteins like lysozyme and ovotransferrin have antimicrobial effects in lab tests. Some studies suggest egg intake may lower blood pressure, but data on cancer are mixed.
Other findings
Protein quality and digestibility
Egg protein is highly digestible and provides all essential amino acids. It has the highest protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score.
What the authors conclude
“It is clear that egg protein has a number of beneficial effects that protect humans across the life spectrum.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say egg protein has beneficial effects that protect humans across the life spectrum.
- They note that eggs are a low-cost protein source that might protect against malnutrition in children, improve skeletal muscle, and prevent sarcopenia in older adults.
- They also state that egg protein has been shown to protect against infection, act as a hypotensive agent, and even protect against cancer.
How it was done
Eggs have been controversial because of their cholesterol, but once that concern is set aside, eggs may be valued for other nutrients. The authors wanted to discuss egg protein as one of those nutrients.
The authors reviewed studies on egg protein and health. These included studies in children, adults and older adults, as well as animal and lab studies.
What it can’t tell you
- Many of the studies in this review were done in animals or in labs, so the results may not be the same in people.
- Some of the studies in people were small or had mixed results, so more research is needed to confirm the findings.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- M.J.P. and M.L.F. declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of Connecticut, USA
The paper
- Title
- The Health Benefits of Egg Protein
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Puglisi MJ, Fernandez ML (2022). The Health Benefits of Egg Protein. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu14142904Free full textPubMed 35889862DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error