A new study from Harvard University is raising important questions about eggs—one of the most popular foods in the world.
While eggs are known to be healthy and full of nutrients, this research suggests they may also be linked to certain types of cancer, especially those related to hormones, like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and deadly forms of prostate cancer.
The study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition. It was led by researcher N. Keum and a group of scientists who wanted to better understand how eating eggs might affect cancer risk.
To do this, they reviewed many earlier studies and used a research method called dose-response meta-analysis. This approach helped them examine whether eating more eggs was tied to a higher or lower risk of certain cancers.
Their findings showed something worth paying attention to. Women who ate five or more eggs per week had a higher chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer compared to women who ate eggs less often or not at all.
For men, eating five eggs per week didn’t increase the overall chance of getting prostate cancer, but it was linked to a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer if they did develop it.
It’s important to understand that the researchers are not saying eggs directly cause cancer. They are only saying there appears to be a possible link. Other things—like a person’s full diet, family history, or the environment they live in—can also affect cancer risk. That’s why the scientists say more studies are needed to learn how eggs might be involved.
Eggs are considered a healthy food because they are full of protein, vitamins, and healthy fats. But they also contain cholesterol and other natural compounds that might affect hormone levels or the way cells grow in the body. Since breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers are strongly linked to hormones, this could explain the possible connection.
Some older studies also hinted at a link between eggs and hormone-related cancers, but their results weren’t clear. This new study adds more strength to the idea by looking at a large amount of data and focusing on how often people eat eggs.
The main takeaway is not that you should stop eating eggs, but that it might be wise to think about how many you eat. If you have a family history of breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer—or if you already have other health risks—it could be a good idea to talk with your doctor or a dietitian about your egg intake.
This study is part of a larger effort to understand how our daily diet affects our long-term health. Food is only one piece of the cancer puzzle, but it’s something we can control. Eating a healthy, balanced diet with a variety of foods and not overdoing any one thing is still the best way to stay well.
As scientists continue their research, we will learn more about how eggs and other everyday foods affect the body. Their goal is to give everyone better information so we can make smarter, healthier choices.
If you care about cancer, please see recent studies about new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors, and results showing new way to supercharge cancer-fighting T cells.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing that vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
