In a recent study published within the journal Food Science and Nutrition, researchers examine the association between total meat consumption, which incorporates each red and white meat, and the regional and global incidence of heart problems.

Study: Total meat (flesh) supply could also be a big risk factor for cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Imge Credit: Fascinadora / Shutterstock.com

Background

One in every of the main areas of focus in medical research is knowing the chance aspects and developing strategies to treat heart problems, which encompasses various disorders of the blood vessels and heart and is a number one explanation for mortality worldwide. While a comprehensive understanding of heart problems stays incomplete, previous studies have identified various lifestyle and behavioral risk aspects that could be addressed to scale back the probability of heart problems.

The increased consumption of saturated fats can result in elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is linked to plaque formation and an increased risk of heart problems. This correlation has led many medical professionals to recommend a reduced intake of beef.

Although beef is believed to have higher saturated fat content than white meat, there may be a ignorance on the difference within the cholesterol content between white and beef. Moreover, contrasting results from some studies also indicate that a preferential consumption of white meat over beef doesn’t lower the chance of heart problems.

In regards to the study

In the current study, researchers used data published by the United Nations consisting of data on demography, health, and economic status for 217 countries. The Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database food balance sheet was used to acquire data on per capita total meat supply for 2017, which included red and white meat, including veal, beef, pig, buffalo, lamb, mutton, chicken, goat, duck, goose, turkey, rabbit, horse, game, and offal.

Data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation was used to acquire information on the incidence rates of heart problems. Variables related to the incidence of heart problems, akin to socioeconomic status, which is related to education, life span, diabetes, and obesity, were extracted to account for confounding effects on the association between total meat consumption and heart problems. Other variables included urbanization and concrete lifestyles, and obesity.

Since data on all variables weren’t available for all countries, each evaluation couldn’t be conducted for all 217 countries. The connection between total meat consumption and the regional and global incidence of heart problems was examined through bivariate correlation evaluation. Partial correlation evaluation was used to find out whether the prediction of heart problems risk based on total meat consumption was independent of things akin to obesity, socioeconomic status, and urbanization.

Correlation coefficients for the association between total meat and heart problems incidence were compared between developing and developed countries. For every of the analyses, countries were grouped based on different criteria, including income classifications from the World Bank, developed and developing countries based on the U.N. classifications, the World Health Organization’s regional classifications, per capita gross domestic product (GDP), geographic distributions, and cultures.

Meat consumption predicts risk of heart problems

The association between the consumption of total meat and the incidence of heart problems was strong and significant within the bivariate correlation analyses. This association remained significant when obesity, socioeconomic status, and urbanization were incorporated into the partial correlation evaluation. Moreover, the stepwise multiple regression evaluation reported that after socioeconomic status, total meat was the strongest predictor of heart problems incidence.

The correlation between total meat consumed and the incidence of heart problems varied across different country groupings used for various analyses. Nevertheless, the consumption of flesh or total meat and the incidence of heart problems was correlated more strongly in developing countries as in comparison with developed countries.

Previous studies have consistently demonstrated that the consumption of beef is higher in high-income countries as in comparison with low to middle-income countries. Nonetheless, the association between increased incidence of heart problems and an unhealthy eating regimen can be influenced by the high sugar and gluten content of their diets and low intake of vegetables and fruits. Heart problems pathogenesis in high-income countries can be linked to sedentary lifestyles.

Conclusions

The consumption of each red and white meat from various animal sources was significantly linked to an increased incidence of heart problems, even after adjusting for confounding variables akin to urbanization-related lifestyles, obesity, and socioeconomic status. After socioeconomic status, the consumption of red and white meat was the strongest predictor of heart problems risk.