Study duration and cardiovascular health biomarkers highlighted in public comments to help ensure 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans review process reflects complete, accurate scientific picture

(Chicago) July 12, 2023 – Nutrition science experts from the American Egg Board’s Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) submitted public comments to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) in response to elements of its proposed scientific review protocol to help achieve a complete and accurate picture of the current body of research around the relationship between diets and cardiovascular health. The scientific review protocol establishes guidelines and requirements for the methodology the DGAC will use to assess nutrition research studies to inform its recommendations to the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) in developing the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

“Eggs play an increasingly important role in American diets, and what we know about the benefits of eggs has grown exponentially as nutrition science has evolved. The American Egg Board and our highly credentialed scientists at the Egg Nutrition Center are committed to supporting the crucial work of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to ensure its esteemed members can make fully informed recommendations based on the breadth of current science,” said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board.

Specifically, the ENC submitted scientific comments related to the proposed review protocol for the question “What is the relationship between dietary patterns consumed and risk of cardiovascular disease?”:

  • Consider expanding the current study duration criteria—currently limited to studies that ran for 12 weeks or more—to allow for studies of shorter duration, which comprise a significant portion of relevant scientific literature on the topic.
  • Consider including additional biomarkers for cardiovascular health that have become generally recognized by the scientific community as valid and important to evaluating cardiovascular risk.

“There are important considerations not currently accounted for in the proposed scientific review protocol that will help ensure that the Committee has a complete and accurate understanding of what the current science says,” explained Dr. Mickey Rubin, executive director of the AEB’s Egg Nutrition Center. “First, it is widely accepted that studies of shorter duration are sufficient in assessing the impact of diet on cardiovascular risk markers like blood cholesterol. The data from those studies are potentially important and relevant to include in their review. Second, the science around cardiovascular health has advanced, and there are important biomarkers for cardiovascular risk that would not be captured in the current protocol.”

Full, detailed comments submitted to the DGAC as part of the public comments process are available here. As a research and promotion organization, the AEB does not and cannot attempt to influence policy. The AEB’s Egg Nutrition Center will continue to support and participate in the DGAC process by submitting scientific information that may be relevant to the current request for comments on behalf of America’s egg farmers when the public is invited to do so.

The 2025 DGAC consists of 20 nationally recognized nutrition and public health experts appointed by HHS and USDA to review the current body of nutrition science and develop a scientific report with independent, science-based advice for HHS and USDA to consider as they develop the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

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About the American Egg Board (AEB) and the Egg Nutrition Center

Home of the Incredible Egg, the AEB is the U.S. egg industry’s national commodity marketing organization. The AEB’s mission is to increase demand for eggs and egg products through research, education and promotion. The Egg Nutrition Center is the AEB’s science and education division. Both organizations are located in Chicago, Ill. For more, visit IncredibleEgg.org and EggNutritionCenter.org