Egg consumption and growth in children: a meta-analysis of interventional trials

Egg consumption and growth in children: a meta-analysis of interventional trials

05 January 2024 | Elisabeth A. Larson¹, Zaixin Zhao², Karlen S. Bader-Larsen² and Faidon Magkos²
This meta-analysis evaluated the effect of egg supplementation on children's growth, analyzing 7 studies involving 3,575 participants aged 6 months to 18 years. The results showed that children in the egg supplementation groups experienced significantly greater increases in height (0.47 cm, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.80 cm, p < 0.01) and weight (0.07 kg, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.13 kg, p = 0.03) compared to those in the control groups. The effect was more pronounced in children under 2 years of age. Eggs are a nutrient-rich food that can improve children's growth, especially in low- and middle-income countries where malnutrition is prevalent. However, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects of egg supplementation on growth. The study highlights the potential of eggs as an affordable and nutritious option for improving children's growth, but also points out the need for further studies to confirm these findings and explore the effectiveness of longer-term interventions. The study also notes that while the overall results show a statistically significant beneficial effect on children's height and weight with egg supplementation, the clinical significance may be limited, particularly in young children. The study also emphasizes the importance of early intervention and the need for further research to determine the optimal duration and method of egg supplementation for improving children's growth.This meta-analysis evaluated the effect of egg supplementation on children's growth, analyzing 7 studies involving 3,575 participants aged 6 months to 18 years. The results showed that children in the egg supplementation groups experienced significantly greater increases in height (0.47 cm, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.80 cm, p < 0.01) and weight (0.07 kg, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.13 kg, p = 0.03) compared to those in the control groups. The effect was more pronounced in children under 2 years of age. Eggs are a nutrient-rich food that can improve children's growth, especially in low- and middle-income countries where malnutrition is prevalent. However, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects of egg supplementation on growth. The study highlights the potential of eggs as an affordable and nutritious option for improving children's growth, but also points out the need for further studies to confirm these findings and explore the effectiveness of longer-term interventions. The study also notes that while the overall results show a statistically significant beneficial effect on children's height and weight with egg supplementation, the clinical significance may be limited, particularly in young children. The study also emphasizes the importance of early intervention and the need for further research to determine the optimal duration and method of egg supplementation for improving children's growth.
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