Red Meat Intake and the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Prospective Cohort Study in the Million Veteran Program.

BACKGROUND: Red meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in prospective cohort studies and a profile of biomarkers favoring high CVD risk in short-term controlled trials. However, several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses concluded with no or weak evidence for limiting red meat intake. OBJECTIVES: To prospectively examine the associations between red meat intake and incident CVD in an ongoing cohort study with diverse socioeconomic and racial or ethnic backgrounds. METHODS: Our study included 148,506 participants [17,804 female (12.0%)] who were free of cancer, diabetes, and CVD at baseline from the Million Veteran Program. A food frequency questionnaire measured red meat intakes at baseline. Nonfatal myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke were identified through a high-throughput phenotyping algorithm, and fatal CVD events were identified by searching the National Death Index. RESULTS: Comparing the extreme categories of intake, the multivariate-adjusted relative risks of CVD was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.38; P-trend < 0.0001) for total red meat, 1.14 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.36; P-trend = 0.01) for unprocessed red meat, and 1.29 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.60; P-trend = 0.003) for processed red meat. We observed a more pronounced positive association between red meat intake and CVD in African American participants than in White participants (P-interaction = 0.01). Replacing 0.5 servings/d of red meat with 0.5 servings/d of nuts, whole grains, and skimmed milk was associated with 14% (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.83, 0.90), 7% (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89, 0.96), and 4% (RR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94, 0.99) lower risks of CVD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of CVD. Our findings support lowering red meat intake and replacing red meat with plant-based protein sources or low-fat dairy foods as a key dietary recommendation for the prevention of CVD.

Dietary factors and the risk of atopic dermatitis: a Mendelian randomisation study.

Previous studies have revealed an association between dietary factors and atopic dermatitis (AD). To explore whether there was a causal relationship between diet and AD, we performed Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis. The dataset of twenty-one dietary factors was obtained from UK Biobank. The dataset for AD was obtained from the publicly available FinnGen consortium. The main research method was the inverse-variance weighting method, which was supplemented by MR‒Egger, weighted median and weighted mode. In addition, sensitivity analysis was performed to ensure the accuracy of the results. The study revealed that beef intake (OR = 0·351; 95 % CI 0·145, 0·847; P = 0·020) and white bread intake (OR = 0·141; 95 % CI 0·030, 0·656; P = 0·012) may be protective factors against AD. There were no causal relationships between AD and any other dietary intake factors. Sensitivity analysis showed that our results were reliable, and no heterogeneity or pleiotropy was found. Therefore, we believe that beef intake may be associated with a reduced risk of AD. Although white bread was significant in the IVW analysis, there was large uncertainty in the results given the wide 95 % CI. Other factors were not associated with AD in this study.

Incidence and risk factors for colorectal cancer in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There is a significant burden of mortality from colorectal cancer in Africa. Due to the heterogeneity of dietary and lifestyle practices throughout Africa, our work sought to define risk factors for the development of CRC in the African continent. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and African Index Medicus for studies written in English, examining the incidence and risk factors of CRC in Africa. A systematic analysis was done to compare different risk factors in constituent studies. A meta-analysis random effects model was fitted to estimate the pooled incidence of CRC. RESULTS: Of 2471 studies screened, 26 were included for the quantitative analysis; 20 in the incidence analysis, and six in the risk factor analysis. The overall ASIR per 100,000 person-years of CRC for males and females was 7.51 and 6.22, respectively. The highest incidence rates were observed between 2012 and 2021. Risk factors for CRC in Africa include tobacco smoking, and consumption of red meat, butter, and alcohol. Protective factors included, regular consumption of fruits and regular physical activity. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CRC in Africa is higher than that suggested by previous studies. Our study shows that nonmodifiable and modifiable factors contribute to CRC in Africa. High-quality studies conducted on generalizable populations that examine risk factors in a comprehensive fashion are required to inform primary and secondary prevention initiatives for CRC in Africa.

Where's the Beef? Understanding Allergic Responses to Red Meat in Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) describes a collection of symptoms associated with IgE-mediated hypersensitivity responses to the glycan galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). Individuals with AGS develop delayed hypersensitivity reactions, with symptoms occurring >2 h after consuming mammalian ("red") meat and other mammal-derived food products. The mechanisms of pathogenesis driving this paradigm-breaking food allergy are not fully understood. We review the role of tick bites in the development of alpha-gal-specific IgE and highlight innate and adaptive immune cells possibly involved in alpha-gal sensitization. We discuss the impact of alpha-gal glycosylation on digestion and metabolism of alpha-gal glycolipids and glycoproteins, and the implications for basophil and mast cell activation and mediator release that generate allergic symptoms in AGS.

Partial substitution of red meat or processed meat with plant-based foods and the risk of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Shifting from animal-based to plant-based diets could reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence. Currently, the impacts of these dietary shifts on CRC risk are ill-defined. Therefore, we examined partial substitutions of red or processed meat with whole grains, vegetables, fruits or a combination of these in relation to CRC risk in Finnish adults. METHODS: We pooled five Finnish cohorts, resulting in 43 788 participants aged ≥ 25 years (79% men). Diet was assessed by validated food frequency questionnaires at study enrolment. We modelled partial substitutions of red (100 g/week) or processed meat (50 g/week) with corresponding amounts of plant-based foods. Cohort-specific hazard ratios (HR) for CRC were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models and pooled together using random-effects models. Adjustments included age, sex, energy intake and other relevant confounders. RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 28.8 years, 1124 CRCs were diagnosed. We observed small risk reductions when red meat was substituted with vegetables (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 - 0.99), fruits (0.97, 0.94 - 0.99), or whole grains, vegetables and fruits combined (0.97, 0.95 - 0.99). For processed meat, these substitutions yielded 1% risk reductions. Substituting red or processed meat with whole grains was associated with a decreased CRC risk only in participants with < median whole grain intake (0.92, 0.86 - 0.98; 0.96, 0.93 - 0.99, respectively; pinteraction=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Even small, easily implemented substitutions of red or processed meat with whole grains, vegetables or fruits could lower CRC risk in a population with high meat consumption. These findings broaden our insight into dietary modifications that could foster CRC primary prevention.

Consumption of different types of meat and the risk of chronic limb-threatening ischemia: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Although red meat consumption has been associated with risk of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and stroke, no prospective study has examined this with the risk of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). METHODS: In a prospective study of 63,257 Chinese in Singapore, who were aged 45-74 years old at recruitment, diet was assessed via a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Incident CLTI cases were ascertained via linkage with nationwide hospital records for lower extremity amputation or angioplasty for peripheral arterial disease. Multivariable Cox models were used to examine associations between quartiles of meat intake and CLTI risk. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 18.8 years, there were 1069 cases of CLTI. Higher intake of red meat intake was associated with increased risk of CLTI in a stepwise manner. Comparing extreme quartiles of red meat intake, the hazard ratio (HR) for the association with CLTI risk was 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.49; P-trend = 0.02]. In stratified analysis, red meat intake had a stronger association with CLTI risk among those without diabetes [HR (95% CI) comparing extreme quartiles = 1.41 (1.10-1.80); P-trend = 0.03] than among those with diabetes at baseline [HR (95% CI) comparing extreme quartiles = 1.04 (0.79-1.38); P-trend = 0.05] (P-interaction = 0.03). Otherwise, the associations were not different by sex, BMI, smoking status, hypertension, alcohol consumption, or history of cardiovascular diseases. Using a theoretical model in substitution analysis that substituted three servings per week of red meat with poultry or fish/shellfish, the relative risk of CLTI was reduced by 13-14%. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of red meat was associated with higher CLTI risk in this Asian cohort. Substituting red meat with poultry or fish/shellfish may reduce this risk.

Emerging Trends in Information-Seeking Behavior for Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Infodemiology Study Using Time Series and Content Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-gal syndrome is an emerging allergy characterized by an immune reaction to the carbohydrate molecule alpha-gal found in red meat. This unique food allergy is likely triggered by a tick bite. Cases of the allergy are on the rise, but prevalence estimates do not currently exist. Furthermore, varying symptoms and limited awareness of the allergy among health care providers contribute to delayed diagnosis, leading individuals to seek out their own information and potentially self-diagnose. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to (1) describe the volume and patterns of information-seeking related to alpha-gal, (2) explore correlations between alpha-gal and lone star ticks, and (3) identify specific areas of interest that individuals are searching for in relation to alpha-gal. METHODS: Google Trends Supercharged-Glimpse, a new extension of Google Trends, provides estimates of the absolute volume of searches and related search queries. This extension was used to assess trends in searches for alpha-gal and lone star ticks (lone star tick, alpha gal, and meat allergy, as well as food allergy for comparison) in the United States. Time series analyses were used to examine search volume trends over time, and Spearman correlation matrices and choropleth maps were used to explore geographic and temporal correlations between alpha-gal and lone star tick searches. Content analysis was performed on related search queries to identify themes and subcategories that are of interest to information seekers. RESULTS: Time series analysis revealed a rapidly increasing trend in search volumes for alpha-gal beginning in 2015. After adjusting for long-term trends, seasonal trends, and media coverage, from 2015 to 2022, the predicted adjusted average annual percent change in search volume for alpha-gal was 33.78%. The estimated overall change in average search volume was 627%. In comparison, the average annual percent change was 9.23% for lone star tick, 7.34% for meat allergy, and 2.45% for food allergy during this time. Geographic analysis showed strong significant correlations between alpha-gal and lone star tick searches especially in recent years (ρ=0.80; P<.001), with primary overlap and highest search rates found in the southeastern region of the United States. Content analysis identified 10 themes of primary interest: diet, diagnosis or testing, treatment, medications or contraindications of medications, symptoms, tick related, specific sources of information and locations, general education information, alternative words for alpha-gal, and unrelated or other. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides insights into the changing information-seeking patterns for alpha-gal, indicating growing awareness and interest. Alpha-gal search volume is increasing at a rapid rate. Understanding specific questions and concerns can help health care providers and public health educators to tailor communication strategies. The Google Trends Supercharged-Glimpse tool offers enhanced features for analyzing information-seeking behavior and can be valuable for infodemiology research. Further research is needed to explore the evolving prevalence and impact of alpha-gal syndrome.

Red meat consumption, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: Observational studies show inconsistent associations of red meat consumption with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Moreover, red meat consumption varies by sex and setting, however, whether the associations vary by sex and setting remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the evidence concerning the associations of unprocessed and processed red meat consumption with CVD and its subtypes [coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and heart failure], type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to assess differences by sex and setting (western vs. eastern, categorized based on dietary pattern and geographic region). Two researchers independently screened studies from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published by 30 June 2022. Forty-three observational studies (N = 4 462 810, 61.7% women) for CVD and 27 observational studies (N = 1 760 774, 64.4% women) for diabetes were included. Red meat consumption was positively associated with CVD [hazard ratio (HR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05 to 1.16 for unprocessed red meat (per 100 g/day increment); 1.26, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.35 for processed red meat (per 50 g/day increment)], CVD subtypes, T2DM, and GDM. The associations with stroke and T2DM were higher in western settings, with no difference by sex. CONCLUSION: Unprocessed and processed red meat consumption are both associated with higher risk of CVD, CVD subtypes, and diabetes, with a stronger association in western settings but no sex difference. Better understanding of the mechanisms is needed to facilitate improving cardiometabolic and planetary health.

N-glycolylneuraminic acid in red meat and processed meat is a health concern: A review on the formation, health risk, and reduction.

One of the most consistent epidemiological associations between diet and human disease risk is the impact of consuming red meat and processed meat products. In recent years, the health concerns surrounding red meat and processed meat have gained worldwide attention. The fact that humans have lost the ability to synthesize N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) makes red meat and processed meat products the most important source of exogenous Neu5Gc for humans. As our research of Neu5Gc has increased, it has been discovered that Neu5Gc in red meat and processed meat is a key factor in many major diseases. Given the objective evidence of the harmful risk caused by Neu5Gc in red meat and processed meat to human health, there is a need for heightened attention in the field of food. This updated review has several Neu5Gc aspects given including biosynthetic pathway of Neu5Gc and its accumulation in the human body, the distribution of Neu5Gc in food, the methods for detecting Neu5Gc, and most importantly, a systematic review of the existing methods for reducing the content of Neu5Gc in red meat and processed meat. It also provides some insights into the current status and future directions in this area.

Anaphylaxis triggered by alpha-gal allergy. / Anafylaksi utløst av alfa-gal-allergi.

Background: Alpha-gal allergy or red meat allergy is a rare yet potentially severe allergy. Sensitisation usually occurs when alpha-gal present in the tick's saliva is transferred to humans during a tick bite, prompting the production of IgE antibodies to alpha-gal. Subsequent exposure to mammalian meat or other products containing alpha-gal can lead to allergic reactions. Case presentation: A previously healthy man in his sixties was admitted with acute anaphylaxis. A history of multiple tick bites and recent consumption of mammalian meat raised suspicion of anaphylaxis caused by alpha-gal syndrome. Interpretation: A diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome was given based on elevated alpha-gal IgE antibodies, and further supported by medical history and clinical assessment. He was discharged with dietary instructions to eliminate food and products containing alpha-gal, and to manage allergy symptoms and anaphylaxis according to local guidelines.

The association between red, processed and white meat consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

PURPOSE: The association between meat consumption and the risk of pancreatic cancer has not been comprehensively investigated by different types of meat. The current study was conducted to evaluate this association. METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science databases were used to search for prospective cohort studies on meat consumption and pancreatic cancer risk through May 2022. A meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to combine study-specific relative risks (RR). The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. RESULTS: Twenty prospective cohort studies including 3,934,909 participants and 11,315 pancreatic cancer cases were identified. The pooled RR of pancreatic cancer for the highest versus lowest white meat intake category was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03-1.27). There was no significant association between consumption of red meat and processed meat and pancreatic cancer risk in the highest versus lowest analysis. In dose-response analyses, pooled RRs were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01-1.28) for an increase in red meat consumption of 120 g per day and 1.26 (95% CI: 1.08-1.47) for an increase in white meat consumption of 100 g per day, respectively. Processed meat consumption showed neither a linear nor a non-linear association with pancreatic cancer risk. CONCLUSION: Findings from this meta-analysis suggested that high consumption of red meat and white meat is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm the association between meat consumption and the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Oral immunotherapy in alpha-gal red meat allergy: Could specific IgE be a potential biomarker in monitoring management?

BACKGROUND: Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising treatment for food allergies. Our aim was to establish the long-term safety and efficacy of a novel red meat (RM) OIT in galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) allergy in adults. METHODS: Out of 20 patients with confirmed RM allergy, five (41.66%) underwent an early OIT, seven (58.33%) underwent a delayed protocol and eight patients who were not desensitized formed the patient control group. 15 and 27 day RM OIT for early-onset and delayed-onset alpha-gal allergy were administered, respectively. Desensitized patients were recommended to continue eating at least 100 g RM every day for 6 months and every other day in the following 6 months. After a year, the consumption was recommended 2/3 times in a week. Patients were followed up with skin tests with commercial beef and lamb extracts, fresh raw/cooked beef and lamb and cetuximab and also with serum alpha-gal specific Immunoglobulin-E (sIgE) in the first and fifth years. RESULTS: All patients who underwent OIT became tolerant to RM. During the 5 year follow-up, the median alpha-gal sIgE concentration gradually decreased in nine patients who consumed RM uneventfully while remained unchanged in the control group (p = .016). In two patients, rare tick bites acted as inducers of hypersensitivity reactions with concomitant elevation of alpha-gal sIgE concentrations whereas one patient with low follow-up alpha-gal sIgE concentrations consumed RM uneventfully after frequent tick bites. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the long-term safety and efficacy of alpha-gal OIT. Additionally, alpha-gal sIgE seems to be a potential biomarker to monitor OIT.

Meat Intake and the Risk of Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The evidence for the association between meat intake and the risk of bladder cancer (BC) is still inconclusive. A total of 29 studies involving 1,475,125 participants and 18,836 cases of BC were included in the meta-analysis. Among these studies, 11 reported total meat intake, 20 reported red meat intake, 19 reported processed meat intake, 15 reported white meat intake, and 15 reported fish intake. The results suggested that there was an overall increase in BC risk associated with total meat intake (RR = 1.10; 95% confidence interval: 0.92-1.31; I2 = 55.20%; P = 0.014), and a higher red meat (RR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.08-1.39; I2 = 51.30%; P = 0.004) or processed meat (RR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.08-1.25; I2 = 28.00%; P = 0.125) intake may increase the risk of BC. In contrast, a higher intake of fish (RR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67-0.95; I2 = 62.90%; P = 0.001) was inversely associated with the risk of BC. Moreover, we did not observe an association between white meat (RR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.83-1.10; I2 = 53.70%; P = 0.007) and the risk of BC. Our findings suggested that dietary intervention may be an effective approach to preventing BC, which still needs to be confirmed by further well-designed observational studies.

Meat consumption and risk of ischemic heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is uncertainty regarding the association between unprocessed red and processed meat consumption and the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), and little is known regarding the association with poultry intake. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to quantitatively assess the associations of unprocessed red, processed meat, and poultry intake and risk of IHD in published prospective studies. We systematically searched CAB Abstract, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, bioRxiv and medRxiv, and reference lists of selected studies and previous systematic reviews up to June 4, 2021. All prospective cohort studies that assessed associations between 1(+) meat types and IHD risk (incidence and/or death) were selected. The meta-analysis was conducted using fixed-effects models. Thirteen published articles were included (ntotal = 1,427,989; ncases = 32,630). Higher consumption of unprocessed red meat was associated with a 9% (relative risk (RR) per 50 g/day higher intake, 1.09; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.06 to 1.12; nstudies = 12) and processed meat intake with an 18% higher risk of IHD (1.18; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.25; nstudies = 10). There was no association with poultry intake (nstudies = 10). This study provides substantial evidence that unprocessed red and processed meat, though not poultry, might be risk factors for IHD.

Associations of the consumption of unprocessed red meat and processed meat with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality, and the dose-response relationship: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of unprocessed red meat and processed meat consumption with cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality, and the dose-response relationship. METHODS: Published literature was retrieved through a structured search of 10 electronic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, LILACS, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane (CENTRAL), WHOLIS, PAHO and Embase, without language or year of publication restrictions. In addition, we searched the references of published studies. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes: The PRISMA Statement. RESULTS: Twenty-one prospective cohort studies were included in the systematic review. The CVDs evaluated in the inserted studies were stroke, heart failure (HF) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Considering the heterogeneity found in the studies, for the meta-analysis, 9 articles were included. The results presented in the meta-analysis of the association of consumption of unprocessed red meat and CVD indicated that there was a significant association with total stroke incidence (RR 1.10; 95%; CI 1.01 to 1.19; p = 0.02). There was no association with Ischemic stroke incidence, nor CHD Mortality with consumption of unprocessed red meat. However, for Hemorrhagic Stroke Mortality the assessment in the consumption of unprocessed red meat showed an association of protection for women (RR 0.64; 95%; CI 0.45 to 0.91; p = 0.01). As for the results of the meta-analysis of the association between consumption of processed meat and CVD, they indicated that there was a significant association with total stroke incidence (RR 1.17; 95%; CI 1.08 to 1.26; p < 0.0001). There was no association with Ischemic stroke, nor with CHD Mortality with consumption of processed meat. Some studies that showed no association of risk, presented a significant linear trend dose response for the association of the consumption of unprocessed red meat (Bernstein et al. 2010; Nagao et al. 2012) or processed meat (Bernstein et al. 2012) and CVD. CONCLUSION: According to the results found in the meta-analysis, the consumption of unprocessed red meat and processed meat are associated with the incidence of stroke, however, no positive association was observed in relation to mortality from CVD. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was registered on the PROSPERO (number: CRD42019100914).

Red/processed meat consumption and non-cancer-related outcomes in humans: umbrella review.

The associations of red/processed meat consumption and cancer-related health outcomes have been well discussed. The umbrella review aimed to summarise the associations of red/processed meat consumption and various non-cancer-related outcomes in humans. We systematically searched the systematic reviews and meta-analyses of associations between red/processed meat intake and health outcomes from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library databases. The umbrella review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42021218568). A total of 40 meta-analyses were included. High consumption of red meat, particularly processed meat, was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, CVD and metabolic outcomes. Dose-response analysis revealed that an additional 100 g/d red meat intake was positively associated with a 17 % increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 15 % increased risk of CHD, 14 % of hypertension and 12 % of stroke. The highest dose-response/50 g increase in processed meat consumption at 95 % confident levels was 1·37, 95 % CI (1·22, 1·55) for T2DM, 1·27, 95 % CI (1·09, 1·49) for CHD, 1·17, 95 % CI (1·02, 1·34) for stroke, 1·15, 95 % CI (1·11, 1·19) for all-cause mortality and 1·08, 95 % CI (1·02, 1·14) for heart failure. In addition, red/processed meat intake was associated with several other health-related outcomes. Red and processed meat consumption seems to be more harmful than beneficial to human health in this umbrella review. It is necessary to take the impacts of red/processed meat consumption on non-cancer-related outcomes into consideration when developing new dietary guidelines, which will be of great public health importance. However, more additional randomised controlled trials are warranted to clarify the causality.

The association between meat intake and the risk of coronary heart disease in Korean men using the Framingham risk score: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Research suggests that meat intake may increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but most studies take place in Western countries, where the types and amount of meat products consumed differ from those in Asian countries. We aimed to identify the association between meat intake and CHD risk in Korean male adults, using the Framingham risk score. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) Health Examinees (HEXA) study, including 13,293 Korean male adults. We estimated the association of meat intake with ≥20% 10-year CHD risk using Cox proportional hazards regression models to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subjects with the highest total meat intake had a 53% (model 4: HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.05-2.21) increased 10-year CHD risk compared to those with the lowest intake. Those with the highest red meat intake had a 55% (model 3: HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.16-2.06) increased 10-year CHD risk compared to those with the lowest intake. No association was observed between poultry or processed meat intake and 10-year CHD risk. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of total meat and red meat was associated with a higher risk of CHD in Korean male adults. Further studies are needed to provide criteria for the appropriate meat intake by meat type to reduce CHD risk.

Red Meat Consumption and Risk of Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease in Chinese Older Adults.

Associations between red meat consumption and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) are mostly studied in Western populations but not in Chinese or elderly. This prospective study investigated adults ≥65 years from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB). Associations between red meat consumption and CCVD, ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), CCVD mortality, and all-cause mortality were determined by Cox regression. A total of 59,980 participants were analyzed, 14,715 (24.53%) of whom ate red meat daily, 9,843 (16.41%) ate red meat 4-6 days/week, 23,472 (39.13%) ate red meat 1-3 days/week, and 11,950 (19.92%) ate red meat less than 1 day/week. Average amount of red meat usual consumption was 38 g/day. After adjustment, per 50 g/day higher red meat consumption at baseline was significantly associated with increased incident CCVD (aHR = 1.10) among high-income subjects (≥ 10,000 RMB) and urban residents (aHR = 1.12). Per 50 g/day higher baseline red meat consumption was significantly associated with increased ischemic stroke/TIA in urban residents (aHR = 1.08) but decreased risk in rural residents (aHR = 0.84). Higher baseline red meat consumption was associated with lower CCVD mortality in the poorest (aHR = 0.78) and rural residents (aHR = 0.72) and lower all-cause mortality in the poorest (aHR = 0.82) and rural residents (aHR = 0.80). In general, among older adults in China, higher red meat intake independently predicted increased CCVD among urban and high-income individuals but not poor ones. Higher red meat intake appears to be protective against mortality in rural and low-income subjects. Socioeconomic status is a crucial modifying factor on the association between red meat consumption and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in China.

[Correlation between red meat intake and prevalence of adults diabetes in Hubei Province from 1997 to 2018].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between red meat intake and the prevalence of diabetes. METHODS: Using the data of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2018, 1154 people aged 18-75 years were included, and age, gender, urban and rural, education, marital status, income, occupational physical activity, total energy intake, fat energy ratio, smoking, drinking, body mass index and hypertension were adjusted. The Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to calculate diabetes hazard ratio(HR) and corresponding 95%CI. RESULTS: In the study population, the per capita intake of red meat increased from 40.59 g/d in 1997 to 73.91 g/d in 2018, and the prevalence of diabetes rose from 6.14% in 2009 to 7.00% in 2018. In the early adjustment model, compared with the control group, the red meat intake HR of 1-39 g/d group was 0.92(95% CI 0.51-1.68), and the HR of 40-74 g/d group was 0.86(95% CI 0.47-1.58), and the HR of the group ≥75 g/d was 1.02(95% CI 0.62-1.68). In model 2, compared with the control group, the red meat intake HR of 1-39 g/d group was 0.71(95% CI 0.37-1.35), and the HR of 40-74 g/d group was 0.71(95% CI 0.38-1.35), the HR of ≥75 g/d group was 1.06(95% CI 0.69-1.87). In the fully adjusted model, compared with the control group, the red meat intake HR of 1-39 g/d group was 0.75(95% CI 0.61-1.55), the HR of 40-74 g/d group was 0.66(95% CI 0.57-1.43), and the HR of ≥75 g/d group was 1.27(95% CI 0.87-2.04). CONCLUSION: With the increase of red meat intake, the prevalence of diabetes was also increasing, but there was no statistically significant association.

Meat consumption and risk of esophageal and gastric cancer in the Golestan Cohort Study, Iran.

Red meat and processed meat are associated with some gastrointestinal cancers. Our study aims to investigate the association of different meat types with esophageal and gastric cancer (EC, GC) in a high-risk population. The Golestan Cohort Study (GCS) is a population-based cohort of 50 045 individuals aged 40 to 75 from northeast Iran. Detailed data on different exposures were collected using validated questionnaires. We considered quintiles of meat consumption, using grams and density (g/1000 kcal/day). We calculated intake of red, processed, organ and white meat, as well as total red meat, including the first three. We used proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between meat types and cancer. During 12 years of follow-up, out of 49 585 participants (57.4% women), 369 developed EC (48.2% women) and 368 developed GC (27.5% women), including 309 esophageal squamous cell, 20 esophageal adenocarcinomas, 216 cardia and 95 non-cardia GC. No association was found for EC except for red meat among females (HR for one quintile increase 1.13, 95% CI = 1.00-1.27). The risk of GC increased for intake of total red meat (HR 1.08, 95% CI = 1.00-1.17) and red meat separately (HR 1.09, 95% CI = 1.00-1.18). The HR for red meat and non-cardia GC was 1.23 (95% CI = 1.02-1.48). No associations were observed for other types of meat. In conclusion, in this high-risk population red meat intake is associated with GC, but not EC, suggesting a substantial role of this modifiable factor in determining the burden of GC.