An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but an egg a day reduces stunting in infants by almost 50 percent, according to a study published by the journal Pediatrics.
According to the study, 160 children aged six to nine months were selected. Half were given eggs added to their daily diet for six months and the other half had no change to their diet. The children who consumed the eggs along with their other normal foods grew in size significantly compared to the other children. The children grew in both length and weight, both key factors in determining development.
The scientists conducting the study concluded that introducing eggs early in a child’s diet could possibly prevent stunting, a growing global issue in children under the age of five. The children were also given lower sugar in their diets, and were all from Ecuador where growth rate problems are common in two out of five infants.
More studies need to be conducted, but the researchers of the study believe that the nutrients in eggs, specifically choline, are important in growth development. The macronutrient is a subject of controversy in the scientific community; some researchers claim it helps promote liver and brain health, but other studies have found that dietary choline may contribute to heart disease.
