Scientists didn’t warn that eating eggs causes blood clots

A headline warning folks about purported adversarial well being results linked to a preferred breakfast staple started circulating on social media in late January. 

“Scientists warn eggs are causing thousands of people to ‘suddenly’ form blood clots,” the headline published online by News Punch, which describes itself as a news and leisure web site, reads. Some folks have additionally shared the headline on social media, with some posts implying that blood clots are linked to COVID-19 vaccines.

Robert requested VERIFY if the claims about eggs inflicting blood clots are true. 

Did scientists warn folks that eating eggs causes blood clots?

No, scientists didn’t warn folks that eating eggs causes blood clots. 

The article claims eggs are inflicting “thousands of people to ‘suddenly’ form blood clots,” citing findings from a Cleveland Clinic research. 

But the research authors advised VERIFY that the article “does not accurately represent the findings” of their analysis. 

The Cleveland Clinic researchers’ study about choline dietary supplements was printed within the American Heart Association’s Circulation journal in 2017. It particularly checked out choline dietary supplements alone, not consumption of the nutrient by meals reminiscent of eggs.

Choline is a nutrient that helps to assist mind and liver perform. It’s present in sure meals reminiscent of meat, fish, poultry, dairy and eggs, and it is usually out there as a complement for those who aren’t getting sufficient of the nutrient in your weight loss plan. 

The research discovered that choline dietary supplements within the type of a capsule raised ranges of trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite produced by intestine micro organism, among the many research members. 

This fostered elevated platelet responsiveness, a danger issue for blood-clotting occasions reminiscent of coronary heart assault and stroke, in keeping with the research authors. 

But “the research did not show a direct link between egg consumption and ‘suddenly forming blood clots,’” because the headline claims, the authors mentioned.

Christopher Gardner, professor of medication at Stanford University and chair of the American Heart Association’s diet committee, agrees. He mentioned statements linking eggs to blood clots are “completely unsupported.” 

“To extrapolate from a study that did focus on a single nutrient and try to make a claim about food habits, or foods to include or avoid, is really a stretch for the data and we need to stop doing that,” Gardner mentioned. 

More from VERIFY: No, a government-funded meals pyramid does not rank Lucky Charms as more healthy than steak

More current analysis from the Cleveland Clinic specialists doesn’t assist the declare that eating eggs can improve danger elements for blood clots, both. 

A 2021 study printed within the American Journal of Medicine discovered that egg consumption alone “failed to show TMAO elevation or enhanced platelet response in healthy volunteers,” the authors mentioned. 

Eggs will be a part of an total wholesome dietary sample, the American Heart Association says. The affiliation suggests a serving measurement of 1 egg or two egg whites per day for individuals who select to eat eggs.

News Punch has shared misinformation on-line previously. A analysis information on Western Carolina University’s website describes News Punch as a web site that “combines verifiable info with conspiracy theories, city legends and different rumors.”

VERIFY reached out to News Punch for remark however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.