Red Meat, Gut Bacteria and Heart Disease

Research indicates that eating red meat increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. This is consistent with the results from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up study, that involved 120,000 people. It was estimated that "each serving (100 grams) of red meat raises the risk of cardiovascular death by 18 percent." The high saturated fat and heme iron content are two factors which are believed to increase the risk of developing heart disease. Excess iron is associated with oxidative stress, and saturated fats elevate both LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels.

Another factor that increases our risk for heart disease is the type of bacteria living in our intestinal tracts. What we eat determines which bacteria species is present. Eating a diet rich in fiber provides an energy source (prebiotics) that supports the growth of beneficial bacteria. Dr. Joel Fuhrman states in his article, "Research indicates that eating red meat regularly promotes the growth of bacteria that produce harmful substances from the components of red meat. It also indicates that those of us that regularly consume a healthful diet of whole plant foods have a healthier microbial profile, and we are less susceptible to the disease-promoting effects of high-carnitine meats."

Carnitine is an amino acid which is abundant in red meat. When carnitine is metabolized by intestinal bacteria, a substance called TMAO is produced. TMAO is a substance which has been shown to contribute to the development of atherosclerotic plaque. Recent studies measured both carnitine and TMAO in humans. These recent findings suggest "that the combination of high carnitine and high TMAO was associated with increased likelihood of cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke). When they gave humans carnitine supplements, they interestingly found that omnivores produced far more TMAO in response to carnitine than vegans and vegetarians. In addition, the species of gut bacteria in omnivores were different from those in vegetarians and vegans. These results suggest that regularly eating carnitine-containing foods promotes the growth of gut bacteria that can metabolize carnitine into a heart disease-promoting substance."

(1) Red Meat, Gut Bacteria and Heart Disease
(2) Red Meat Linked to Heart Disease
(3) TMAO and Renal Disorders and Mortality
(4) TMAO Metabolite and Atherosclerosis
(5) Other TMAO Related Studies