Whole egg consumption in relation to bone health of the US population: a cross-sectional study

Osteoporosis, a condition that is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), is a serious health concern worldwide. This study aims to explore the relationship between whole egg consumption and BMD levels in the US population. This study involves 19 208 participants with valid BMD and egg consumption data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2013-2014 and 2017-2018. Linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between whole egg consumption and BMD levels. Mediation analysis was used to investigate the role of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the above relationship. After multivariate adjustment, participants consuming whole eggs over 3.53 ounce per day in their diet were found to have elevated BMD levels in the femur (0.013 g cm