Date Published: 16 August 2010

Shifting protein sources away from red meats may reduce risk of heart disease in women

Eating protein-rich foods other than red meat could play an important role in lowering the risk of heart disease.
In a new study, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found that women who consumed higher amounts of red meat had a greater risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Substituting other foods high in protein in place of red meat, such as fish, poultry and nuts, was associated with a lower risk of CHD.

Eating one serving per day of nuts in place of red meat was linked to a 30% lower risk of CHD; substituting a serving of fish showed a 24% lower risk, poultry a 19% lower risk and low-fat dairy a 13% lower risk.

“ The few previous studies of red meat and heart disease largely looked at increasing red meat intake while decreasing all other, or at least unspecified, foods. We used a different approach to understand how replacing one protein-rich food with another was associated with heart disease risk,” said Adam Bernstein, a researcher in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH and lead author of the study.

Many previous studies have focused on either the nutrient composition of protein-rich foods (for example, the amount of saturated fat or iron) or dietary patterns (for example, Mediterranean style diet or Western-style diet) and how they relate to heart disease risk. This study looked at substituting one protein-rich food for another, which may be easier for individuals compared with substituting one nutrient or one dietary pattern for another, in order to reduce the risk of heart disease.

The researchers followed 84,136 women aged 30-55 years in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-based Nurses’ Health Study over a period of 26 years. The participants had no known cancer, diabetes, stroke, angina or other cardiovascular disease. To assess diets, the participants filled out a questionnaire every four years about the types of food they ate and how often.

During that time the researchers documented 2,210 non-fatal heart attacks and 952 deaths from CHD. After adjusting for age, smoking and other known cardiovascular disease risk factors, the researchers found that higher intakes of processed (such as bacon and salami) and unprocessed (such as steak and pork) red meat and high-fat dairy were significantly associated with an elevated risk of CHD. Higher consumption of fish, poultry and low-fat dairy was significantly associated with a lower risk of CHD.

A number of factors may account for the link between red meat intake and higher risk of heart disease. For example, many previous studies had found an association between the form of iron in red meat and risk of CHD; saturated fat and cholesterol may also contribute to greater CHD risk. The high sodium content of processed meats may also lead to heart disease.

“ Our findings show clearly that source of protein in our diet has an important impact on our health, and we can’t consider red meat, chicken, fish, beans, and nuts to be interchangeable,” said Walter Willett, chair of the Department of Nutrition at HSPH and senior author of the study.

“ This should not be surprising because when we eat red meat we get a large dose of saturated fat, cholesterol, and a form of iron that can override our control mechanisms. If instead we eat nuts as a protein source, for example, we get unsaturated fats that reduce our blood cholesterol, no cholesterol itself, and lots of fiber, minerals, and vitamins.”

One of the strengths of the study compared with previous studies was the large number of participants, the long follow-up period and the updated dietary data every four years. Also, the researchers say the findings are likely to apply to men as well.

“ Our research adds to the growing and convincing body of evidence that red meat intake should be minimized or excluded from the diet in order to maintain cardiovascular health,” said Bernstein.

Support for the study was provided by the National Institutes of Health. Qi Sun was supported by a post-doctoral fellowship from Unilever, Inc.

Research Paper: “Major Dietary Protein Sources and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women,” Adam M. Bernstein, Qi Sun, Frank B. Hu, Meir J. Stampfer, JoAnn E. Manson, Walter Willett, Circulation, August 16, 2010

News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. Any views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released by the United States based source listed below on 16 August 2010 and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion here. For further information, please visit their website.