Eggs' nutritional value has been re-examined by the USDA, and the findings are promising for egg lovers. Eggs in actuality contain 14% less cholesterol than the story previous examinations have told. In addition, eggs turn out to be a huge supplier of Vitamin D, which was the most ingested single vitamin pill in 2010. Vitamin D came out the big winner in 2010 as the "most used single vitamin" at 56.2% usage amongst those surveyed, and also won the "most improved" category with a 52% increase in usage since 2008.
The average amount of cholesterol in one large egg is 185 mg, and large eggs now contain 41 IU of vitamin D, an increase of 64%. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.
Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated in part by vitamin D.
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