The recommended amount of egg protein from 1973 might not be enough to keep young men’s bodies in balance if they’re eating a lot of calories — their bodies might need extra protein from other sources to stay healthy.

We analyzed the available evidence and found that 45 assertions support the idea that the 1973 FAO/WHO egg protein recommendation may be too low for young men on high-calorie diets. No assertions contradicted this. The evidence suggests that when young men consume a lot of calories — especially from energy-dense foods — their bodies may require more protein than what the 1973 guideline recommended, even if that protein comes from sources other than eggs. This doesn’t mean egg protein is insufficient on its own, but rather that the total protein needs of the body might rise with higher energy intake, and the old recommendation may not account for that. We don’t know exactly how much more protein might be needed, or whether this applies to all young men or only those with very high activity levels or specific body compositions. The evidence doesn’t clarify if the body uses extra protein for muscle repair, energy, or other functions in this context. What we’ve found so far points to a possible gap between the 1973 recommendation and the protein needs of modern, high-calorie diets — but we can’t say how large that gap is, or whether adjusting the recommendation would make a measurable difference in health outcomes. If you’re a young man eating a lot of calories — whether from sports, heavy training, or a high-food-intake lifestyle — it may be worth paying attention to your total protein intake, not just relying on the old egg-based guideline.