Conducted by a team at the University of Oxford, a new study links a wide range of diseases caused by meat consumption. The study was published in BMC Medicine.
‘Higher risks of heart disease’
It was found that consumption of unprocessed red meat and processed meat combined is associated with higher risks of ischaemic heart disease, pneumonia, and diabetes.
Just 70g more red and processed meat per day was associated with a 15 percent higher risk of ischaemic heart disease. It also resulted in a 30 percent higher risk of diabetes.
Poultry is not safe either, higher consumption of poultry meat was associated with higher risks of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, and duodenitis. Each 30g higher poultry meat per day was associated with a 17 percent higher risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. And, a 14 percent greater risk of diabetes.
The meat may increase heart disease risk because they are a source of saturated fatty acids that can increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and create a risk factor for ischaemic heart disease.
Dr. Keren Papier, at the University of Oxford, is the study’s lead author.
In a statement sent to, she said: “We’ve long known that unprocessed red meat and processed meat consumption is likely to be carcinogenic.
“This research is the first to assess the risk of 25 non-cancerous health conditions with meat intake in one study. “
Dr. Papier then concluded: “Additional research is needed to evaluate whether the differences in risk we observed with meat intake reflect causal relationships… And, if so, the extent to which these diseases could be prevented by decreasing meat consumption. “
