For several years, the relationship between meat consumption and the risk of heart disease, which irremediably increases the risk of death, has been well known. But, to date, the exact underlying mechanisms and how animal protein increases the risk of heart diseaseto which the results of the study conducted by experts from Tufts University and the Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic (USA) now provide an answer.
The study analyzed a mechanism in which metabolites produced by certain intestinal bacteria when it comes to digesting red meat, they play an important role in the risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers explain that it is important to understand the impact of red meat consumption on the elderly, as they are most vulnerable to heart disease, but can also benefit from protein intake to compensate for loss of mass. and muscle strength due to advancing age. .
For this work, data was collected from nearly 4,000 Americans over the age of 65 who were part of the National Institutes of Health Cardiovascular Health Study, a long-term observational study of disease risk factors. cardiovascular from the age mentioned above. In this study, measurements of different blood biomarkers were performed at different stages of the investigation, such as the levels of Trimethylamine N-oxide (linked to coronary heart disease) generated by the gut microbiome, and things like crotonobetaine where to gamma-butyrobetainewhich is generated after taking L-carnitine and which influences the onset of atherosclerosis.
Experts have shown that higher meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), estimating a 22% higher risk for each 1.1 serving of meat red a day Researchers comment that 10% of this risk is due to the levels of three metabolites produced by gut bacteria from nutrients in meat, which do not occur with other foods, such as poultry, fish or eggs.
The interaction between Red meatthe gut microbiome and the bioactive metabolites generated are an important pathway for heart disease risk for researchers, so the results of this study provide a new focus for developing interventions that help reduce the incidence of this type of disease. Y improve heart health.
De todos modos, hay que decir qu’est tata de un estudio observacional, y que a pesar de que los biomarcadores del microbioma se midieron directamente en la sangre, los dietéticos habits de los subjects del el studio will be obtained from a survey, por lo What causality cannot be proven. The researchers explain that more studies are needed, but even so, the data obtained through this work offers a way to prevent or treat heart disease in a segment of the population whose meat consumption is considered excessive.
Experts recommend following a healthy diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of heart disease, emphasizing that the diet should be rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc., that is, what has long been recommended. You can discover all the details of the survey through This article published on the Tufts University website and on this other published in the scientific journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.