Red Meat Consumption Research Articles

Association between dietary patterns and premenstrual disorders: a cross-sectional analysis of 1382 college students in China.

Premenstrual disorders (PMDs) are common among young women and have been linked to metabolic dysfunction. Limited evidence exists regarding the associations between dietary patterns and PMDs. This cross-sectional study involved young female adults recruited from the Care of Premenstrual Emotion (COPE) cohort study in China to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and PMDs in young adulthood. PMDs were assessed using the Calendar of Premenstrual Experiences, and the consumption frequency of 12 common food groups was evaluated using a Food Frequency Questionnaire. We used principal component analysis to identify the dietary patterns and employed logistic regression to investigate the association between dietary pattern adherence and PMDs. The study included 1382 participants, of whom 337 (24.4%) reported having PMDs. Three dietary patterns were identified and named based on regional food preferences: the Traditional North China Diet (TNCD), the Traditional South China Diet (TSCD), and the Lacto-ovo Vegetarian Diet (LVD). The TSCD, characterized by high consumption of rice, red meat, and poultry, showed a significant inverse association with PMDs. This pattern held good for both premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. These findings suggest that targeted dietary modifications could serve as a localized strategy for PMDs prevention.

Association between processed red meat intake and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study from China.

To explore the association between Processed red meat (PRM) consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Dietary survey, physical measurement, and blood biochemical examination were conducted on 316 patients with type 2 diabetes in Bengbu, China from May to July 2019. Possible confounding factors were identified by comparing between-group variability in the baseline table. To eliminate the effect of confounding factors, subgroup analysis was used to explore whether there were differences in the correlation between PRM intake status and the indicators in cardiovascular disease risk factors. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between PRM and the risk of abnormal levels of cardiovascular risk factors in T2DM patients. Restricted cubic spline plots were used to analyze the dose-response relationship between PRM intake and the indicators of cardiovascular disease risk factors. A total of 316 subjects were included in the study, of whom 139 (44.0%) were male and 177 (56.0%) were female. In the multiplicative interaction, there was an effect modifier for smoking (Pinteraction = 0.033) on the association between PRM intake and the risk of substandard FPG level control; sex (Pinteraction = 0.035), smoking status (Pinteraction = 0.017), and alcohol consumption (Pinteraction = 0.046) had effect modifying effects on the association between PRM intake and risk of abnormal systolic blood pressure. Sex (Pinteraction = 0.045) had an effect modifier on the association of PRM intake status with the risk of diastolic blood pressure abnormality. In addition, age had an effect modifier on the association of PRM intake status with risk of abnormal triglyceride index (Pinteraction = 0.004) and risk of abnormal HDL index (Pinteraction = 0.018). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, logistic regression showed that the OR for substandard HbA1c control in patients in the highest PRM intake group, T3 (3.4 ~ 57.2 g/d), was 1.620-fold higher than in the lowest intake, i.e., the no-intake group, T1 (0.0 ~ 0.0 g/d; OR = 2.620; 95% CI 1.198 ~ 5.732; p = 0.016). Whereas the OR for abnormal control of systolic blood pressure levels was 1.025 times higher (OR = 2.025; 95% CI 1.033 ~ 3.968; p = 0.040) in patients in the PRM low intake group T2 (0.1 ~ 3.3 g/d) than in the non-intake group T1 (0.0 ~ 0.0 g/d), the OR for substandard control of systolic blood pressure in patients in the highest group T3 (3.4 ~ 57.2 g/d) was 1.166 times higher than in the no-intake group T1 (OR = 2.166; 95% CI 1.007 ~ 4.660; p = 0.048). The OR for abnormal TG levels in patients in the highest PRM intake group T3 (3.4 ~ 57.2 g/d) was 1.095 times higher than in the no-intake group T1 (OR = 2.095; 95% CI 1.076 ~ 4.078; p = 0.030). Restricted cubic spline plots presented a nonlinear dose-response relationship between PRM intake and risk of substandard HbA1c and SBP control (P nonlinear <0.05), and an atypical inverted U-shaped association between PRM intake and TC and LDL-C levels (P nonlinear <0.05). The strength of the associations between PRM intake and the control levels of FPG, DBP, HDL-C, and TG were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). PRM intake was generally low in patients with T2DM, but a nonlinear dose-response relationship between PRM intake and the risk of suboptimal control of HbA1c and SBP, with an atypical inverted U-shaped association with TC and LDL-C levels, was observed. Appropriate control of PRM intake may be important for tertiary prevention of T2DM and cardiovascular disease prevention. We need to better understand these relationships to promote improved cardiometabolism and global health.

What are we doing concretely for the food prevention of cancer? Nutrition between scientific evidence and myopic policies.

Scientific research has often investigated the role of diet as a risk factor for cancer development. It is well known that cancer has a multifactorial origin in which several factors are involved: genetic predisposition, dietary factors, personal habits, and infectious and environmental factors. In this Commentary, the role of diet in cancer is discussed following the scientific evidence suggesting that excessive consumption of red meat and processed foods is correlated with a greater risk of contracting cancer. Nevertheless, public health strategies on nutrition in cancer prevention are struggling to take off. The decision to pursue a healthier diet, along with a healthier lifestyle, often comes when the cancer diagnosis is made and not before. On the other hand, scientific evidence demonstrates how nutritional support is increasingly important during oncological treatments. This paper highlights how far we are still from the global adoption of a healthy and sustainable food style from a health, economic, social and environmental perspective. Additionally, it highlights the ancient vision of the role of nutrition on cancer development in which diet is seen only as a possible risk factor, underestimating the protective role in terms of cancer prevention and the modulatory one once the oncological diagnosis has been made.

Burden of ischemic stroke attributable to a high red meat diet in China, 1990-2019: analysis based on the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study.

The burden of ischemic stroke (IS) linked to high consumption of red meat is on the rise. This study aimed to analyze the mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) trends for IS attributed to high red meat intake in China between 1990 and 2019 and to compare these trends with global trends. This study extracted data on IS attributed to diets high in red meat in China from 1990 to 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database. Key measures, including mortality, DALYs, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), and age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR), were used to estimate the disease burden. The estimated annual percentage change and joinpoint regression models were employed to assess the trends over time. An age-period-cohort analysis was used to assess the contribution of a diet high in red meat to the age, period, and cohort effects of IS ASMR and ASDR. Between 1990 and 2019, deaths and DALYs from IS attributed to a diet high in red meat in China, along with corresponding age-standardized rates, significantly increased. The overall estimated annual percentage change for the total population and across sex categories ranged from 1.01 to 2.08. The average annual percentage changes for overall ASDR and ASMR were 1.4 and 1.33, respectively, with male ASDR and ASMR average annual percentage changes at 1.69 and 1.69, respectively. Contrastingly, female ASDR and ASMR average annual percentage changes were 1.07 and 0.87, respectively. Except for a few periods of significant decrease in females, all other periods indicated a significant increase or nonsignificant changes. Incidence of IS linked to a diet high in red meat rose sharply with age, displaying increasing period and cohort effects in ASDR. Female ASMR period and cohort effect ratios initially increased and then decreased, whereas the male ratio showed an upward trend. This study comprehensively analyzed epidemiological characteristics that indicated a marked increase in mortality and DALYs from IS attributable to high red meat consumption, contrasting with a global downtrend. This increase was more pronounced in males than females. This research provides valuable insights for enhancing IS prevention in China.

Harmony unveiled: Intricate the interplay of dietary factor, gut microbiota, and colorectal cancer-A narrative review.

Diet plays a critical role in shaping the gut microbiome, which in turn regulates molecular activities in the colonic mucosa. The state and composition of the gut microbiome are key factors in the development of colorectal cancer. An altered gut microbiome, linked to weakened immune responses and the production of carcinogenic substances, is a significant contributor to colorectal cancer pathogenesis. Dietary changes that involve low-fiber and phytomolecule intake, coupled with higher consumption of red meat, can raise the risk of colorectal cancer. Salutary filaments, which reach the colon undigested, are metabolized by the gut microbiome, producing short-chain fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids possess beneficial anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties that promote colon health. A well-balanced microbiome, supported by beneficial fibers and phytochemicals, can regulate the activation of proto-oncogenes and oncogenic pathways, thereby reducing cell proliferation. Recent research suggests that an overabundance of specific microbes, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, may contribute to adverse changes in the colonic mucosa. Positive lifestyle adjustments have been demonstrated to effectively inhibit the growth of harmful opportunistic organisms. Synbiotics, which combine probiotics and prebiotics, can protect the intestinal mucosa by enhancing immune responses and decreasing the production of harmful metabolites, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation. This narrative review provides a concise understanding of evolving evidence regarding how diet influences the gut microbiome, leading to the restoration of the colonic epithelium. It underscores the importance of a healthy, plant-based diet and associated supplements in preventing colorectal cancer by enhancing gut microbiome health.

The role of norm dynamics for climate relevant behavior: A 2019–2021 panel study of red meat consumption

More sustainable consumption is urgently called for but emerging very slowly at best. This paper contributes to the empirical foundation for understanding the role of norms in shaping, reinforcing, and changing consumption patterns. Drawing on institutional and social psychological theories and research, we investigate the development in normative influences on red meat consumption – a climate relevant behavior – over time. We apply cross lagged SEM analyses utilizing survey data from a representative sample of the Norwegian population the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Red meat consumption is strongly supported by social norms in Norway but seems to be challenged by the societal attention to its negative climate impacts. Such attention may lead people to internalize norms for a climate-friendly diet and thus reduce their red-meat consumption. We find, however, that the influence of pro-climate mitigation norms on red meat consumption is weak and was further weakened in the 2020–21 period, during the Covid19 pandemic. An important question is whether and how policy measures can nurture pro-climate mitigation norms to reach a social “tipping point” regarding meat consumption. Implications for future research on norm dynamics are discussed.

A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF AYURVEDIC HERBAL AND MINERAL FORMULATIONS IN ARBUDA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CANCER

In the present era, cancer is a burning issue caused by the mutation in the cells in which cells divide uncontrollably, thus forming abnormal cell mass in the body. Other causative factors include hereditary factors, lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking, exposure to harmful radiation, consumption of red meat, high-fat diet, etc. Modern cancer therapy such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy is considered to cause dangerous side effects such as hair loss, loss of appetite, anaemia, constipation, etc., causing destruction and depletion of the body's immune system. In Ayurveda, Acharyas have mentioned various herbs and herbo-mineral formulations indicated in Arbuda, which can be used in oncology and aim to strengthen immunity, restore equilibrium, build strength, and restore. Ayurvedic herbs, mineral formulations and lepas (external application) have been mentioned. Herbs such as Ashwagandha, Haridra, Guduchi, Bhallataka, Tulasi, Rasona, and Kanchanara etc., minerals such as swarna, tamra, abhraka, vajra bhasmas etc., herbal and mineral formulations such as Kanchanara guggulu, Talkeshwar rasa, Dinardha rasa, Nityananda rasa, Roudra rasa, etc. and few Lepas have been mentioned in the various texts which are indicated in Arbuda. Despite all these formulations and herbs mentioned in Ayurvedic texts, evidence-based research is lacking to demonstrate their efficacy and potential for cancer activity. Hence, an attempt is made to review various formulations mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts to incorporate them into clinical practice.

Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Tendency of Fishery Consumption: Case of Iğdır Province

In the research, socio-economic and demographic factors affecting the fish consumption amount of consumers in Iğdır province were tried to be determined. The main material of the research is the survey data obtained from 325 consumers residing in the province of Iğdır and determined by using the commensurate sampling method. In the research, the factors affecting the fish consumption amount of the consumers were analyzed with the sequential probit model. In the sequential probit model created, the fish consumption levels of the consumers were used as the addict variable, and the inaddict variables were determined as gender, income level, frequency of fish consumption, type of fish consumed, annual red meat consumption and type of fish consumption. The model results; The variables of gender, income level, frequency of fish consumption, type of fish consumed, annual red meat consumption and fish consumption pattern were all found to be statistically significant. According to the ordinal probit model results, it was determined that the gender of the consumer decreased the fish consumption level. As expected in the research, it was defined that there was a negative relationship between income level and fish consumption level, and a positive relationship between fish consumption frequency and consumption amount. With respect to the model conculsions, it was defined that there is a positive relationship between the amount of red meat consumption of consumers and the amount of fish consumption.

Diet-Attributable Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Acute Myocardial Infarction in Costa Rica Heart Study.

Adopting sustainable dietary patterns is essential for planetary and human health. As data to address this issue are lacking in Latino populations, this study examined the association between diet-attributable greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) and myocardial infarction (MI) in a Costa Rica Heart Study. This analysis included 1817 cases of a first non-fatal acute MI during hospitalization and their matched population-based controls, by age, sex, and area of residence. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to quantify habitual dietary intake and diet-attributable GHGEs (kg CO2 equivalent (eq.)/year). Due to the matching design, conditional logistic regression was used. Red meat consumption contributed approximately 50% to the total diet-attributable GHGEs among both cases and controls. Higher diet-attributable GHGEs were associated with increased odds of acute MI. The odds of MI were 63% higher (OR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.20-2.21) among participants in the highest quintile (median diet-attributable GHGEs = 6247 kg CO2 eq./year) compared to the lowest quintile (median diet-attributable GHGEs = 2065 kg CO2 eq./year). An increasing linear trend in the odds of acute MI and diet-attributable GHGEs was detected (p-trend 0.0012). These findings highlight the importance of reducing red meat consumption to sustainably mitigate the incidence of MI and improve planetary health.

Estimating an almost ideal demand system for red meat consumption in Libya Throughout the Year 2021 (A Case Study of the Municipality of Hay Al-Andalus)

استهدفت الدراسة بشكل أساسي تقدير دالة الطلب على استهلاك اللحوم الحمراء في بلدية حي الأندلس خلال العام 2021 باستخدام نموذج الطلب شبه الأمثل(AIDS)، لشرح سلوك المستهلك وذلك من خلال أسلوب معادلات الانحدار غير المرتبطة ظاهريا (SURE)، هذا وقد تم الاعتماد في الحصول على البيانات من المصادر الأولية المتمثلة في استمارة استبانة، ومن خلال فرض قيود الإضافة والتجانس والتماثل والسالبية، وأظهرت نتائج نموذج (AIDS) ارتفاع نسبة إنفاق المستهلك على اللحوم حيث بلغت النسبة الأكبر للحوم الأغنام 31%، وهذا يعني تفضيل المستهلك الليبي لهذه السلعة للحصول على احتياجاته الغذائية من البروتين الحيواني،، بينما بلغت للحوم الأبقار والإبل والدواجن والأسماك على التوالي (18%،8%، %28، 15%)، وأشارت نتائج مرونة الطلب السعرية على لحوم الأغنام، والأبقار، والإبل، والدواجن، والأسماك غير مرنة وذلك من خلال القيم المتحصل (-0.03،-0.01،-0.51،-0.08، -0.06) على التوالي، وعلاقة تكاملية بين لحوم الأغنام ولحوم الأبقار والإبل والدواجن والأسماك وفقًا للمرونات الطلب التقاطعية، وأخيرا أظهرت المرونة الإنفاقية أن لحوم كلا من الأغنام والأبقار والإبل والدواجن تعتبر سلعا ضرورية من خلال القيم المتحصل عليها (0.39،0.95،0.45،0.71) على التوالي، وان لحوم الأسماك سلعة كمالية إذ قدرت ب2.71، وأوصت الدراسة التوسع في الإنتاج المحلي من اللحوم الحمراء من خلال زيادة الاستثمار في الإنتاج الحيواني والاهتمام بزيادة الإنتاج من لحوم كل من الدواجن نظرا لانخفاض سعرها مقارنة بأسعار اللحوم الحمراء والأسماك حتى تكون في متناول ذوي الدخول المنخفضة.

Associations of diet quality and food consumption with serum biomarkers for lipid and amino acid metabolism in Finnish children: the PANIC study.

To investigate the associations of overall diet quality and dietary factors with serum biomarkers for lipid and amino acid metabolism in a general population of children. We studied 194 girls and 209 boys aged 6-8years participating in the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study. Food consumption was assessed by 4-day food records and diet quality was quantified by the Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index (FCHEI). Fasting serum fatty acids, amino acids, apolipoproteins, as well as lipoprotein particle sizes were analyzed with high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Data were analyzed using linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and body fat percentage. FCHEI was directly associated with the ratio of polyunsaturated (PUFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) (PUFA/SFA), the ratio of PUFA to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (PUFA/MUFA), the ratio of PUFA to total fatty acids (FA) (PUFA%), the ratio of omega-3-fatty acids to total FA (omega-3 FA%), and inversely associated with the ratio of MUFA to total FA (MUFA%), alanine, glycine, histidine and very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle size. Consumption of vegetable oils and vegetable-oil-based margarine (≥ 60% fat) was directly associated with PUFA/SFA, PUFA/MUFA, PUFA%, the ratio of omega-6 FA to total FA (omega-6 FA%), and inversely associated with SFA, MUFA, SFA to total FA (SFA%), MUFA%, alanine and VLDL particle size. Consumption of high-fiber grain products directly associated with PUFA/SFA, PUFA/MUFA, omega-3 FA%, omega-6 FA%, PUFA% and inversely associated with SFA and SFA%. Fish consumption directly related to omega-3 FA and omega-3 FA%. Consumption of sugary products was directly associated with histidine and VLDL particle size. Vegetable, fruit, and berry consumption had direct associations with VLDL particle size and the ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A1. Consumption of low fat (< 1%) milk was directly associated with phenylalanine. A higher consumption of high-fat (≥ 1%) milk was associated with lower serum MUFA/SFA and higher SFA%. Sausage consumption was directly related to SFA% and histidine. Red meat consumption was inversely associated with glycine. Better diet quality, higher in intake of dietary sources of unsaturated fat and fiber, and lower in sugary product intake were associated with more favorable levels of serum biomarkers for lipid and amino acid metabolism independent of adiposity. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01803776, registered March 3, 2013.

The Meaty gender Gap: Understanding Gender-Based differences in intention to reduce red meat consumption

Literature shows that policies aimed at reducing meat consumption benefit from instruments targeting specific population groups. Gender appears to be a strong predictor of dietary patterns, but research detailing differences between men and women in the antecedents of intention to reduce meat consumption is lacking. Our study seeks to fill this gap. Employing an extension of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, newly implemented in the food context, we divided the antecedents of intention into subcomponents. The study focused on a sample of 400 Italian consumers, and the data were analysed applying a Structural Equation Model. Our findings highlighted substantial dissimilarities between genders, particularly in the realm of Perceived Behavioural Control, thereby offering novel perspectives for designing gender-specific interventions to reduce meat consumption.

Genome-Wide Gene-Environment Interaction Analyses to Understand the Relationship between Red Meat and Processed Meat Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk.

High red meat and/or processed meat consumption are established colorectal cancer risk factors. We conducted a genome-wide gene-environment (GxE) interaction analysis to identify genetic variants that may modify these associations. A pooled sample of 29,842 colorectal cancer cases and 39,635 controls of European ancestry from 27 studies were included. Quantiles for red meat and processed meat intake were constructed from harmonized questionnaire data. Genotyping arrays were imputed to the Haplotype Reference Consortium. Two-step EDGE and joint tests of GxE interaction were utilized in our genome-wide scan. Meta-analyses confirmed positive associations between increased consumption of red meat and processed meat with colorectal cancer risk [per quartile red meat OR = 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21-1.41; processed meat OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.20-1.63]. Two significant genome-wide GxE interactions for red meat consumption were found. Joint GxE tests revealed the rs4871179 SNP in chromosome 8 (downstream of HAS2); greater than median of consumption ORs = 1.38 (95% CI = 1.29-1.46), 1.20 (95% CI = 1.12-1.27), and 1.07 (95% CI = 0.95-1.19) for CC, CG, and GG, respectively. The two-step EDGE method identified the rs35352860 SNP in chromosome 18 (SMAD7 intron); greater than median of consumption ORs = 1.18 (95% CI = 1.11-1.24), 1.35 (95% CI = 1.26-1.44), and 1.46 (95% CI = 1.26-1.69) for CC, CT, and TT, respectively. We propose two novel biomarkers that support the role of meat consumption with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The reported GxE interactions may explain the increased risk of colorectal cancer in certain population subgroups.

Dose-response association between animal protein sources and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There are contradictory findings about the relationship between various animal protein sources and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The purpose of our study was to understand better the associations between total protein, animal protein, and animal protein sources and the risk of developing GDM. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science encompassing the literature up until August 2022. A random-effects model was used to combine the data. For estimating the dose-response curves, a one-stage linear mixed-effects meta-analysis was conducted. Data related to the association between animal protein consumption and the risk of GDM in the general population was extracted from prospective cohort studies. It was determined that 17 prospective cohort studies with a total of 49 120 participants met the eligibility criteria. It was concluded with high certainty of evidence that there was a significant association between dietary animal protein intake and GDM risk (1.94, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.65, n = 6). Moreover, a higher intake of total protein, total meat, and red meat was positively and significantly associated with an increased risk of GDM. The pooled relative risks of GDM were 1.50 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.94; n = 3) for a 30 g/d increment in processed meat, 1.68 (95% CI: 1.25, 2.24; n = 2) and 1.94 (95% CI: 1.41, 2.67; n = 4) for a 100 g/d increment in total and red meat, and 1.21 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.33; n = 4) and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.52; n = 3) for a 5% increment in total protein and animal protein, respectively. GDM had a positive linear association with total protein, animal protein, total meat consumption, and red meat consumption, based on non-linear dose-response analysis. Overall, consuming more animal protein-rich foods can increase the risk of GDM. The results from the current study need to be validated by other, well-designed prospective studies. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022352303.

Dietary Protein Intake, Health-related Quality of Life and Sleep Quality of Malaysians

Introduction: The Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey and National Health and Morbidity Surveys revealed a significant shift in protein intake with increased meat and seafood consumption. Concomitantly, non-communicable diseases (NCD) increased and were linked to poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep quality. Protein intake, particularly from the animal source, is a modifiable nutrition parameter affecting HRQoL and sleep quality. This study investigated the association between different animal proteins, HRQoL and sleep quality in the Malaysian population. Methods: One hundred and fifty Malaysian adults were recruited and subjected to validated questionnaires to assess their protein intake, HRQoL and sleep quality. Additionally, their BMI and waist circumference were measured. Associations between all study parameters were analyzed. Results: There was no statistically significant association between protein intake, BMI, and waist circumference. Increased diet of white meat and seafood was linked to a lower risk of NCDs, improved overall HRQoL, and better sleep quality. Contrastingly, increased red meat consumption was associated with a higher risk of NCDs, poor physical and social function, and worsening sleep quality. Conclusion: The type of animal dietary protein consumed, as well as the frequency with which white and red meat, and seafood are consumed, can all have an effect on HRQoL and sleep quality. More research is needed to evaluate the impact of protein intake levels on HRQoL and sleep quality, including understanding the physiological processes involved. These data will be able to assist health professionals in personalised nutritional and patient management.

High levels of alpha-gal with large variation in the salivary glands of lone star ticks fed on human blood

Tick bites, associated with the secretion of tick saliva containing the xenoglycan galactose-alpha-1, 3-galactose (alpha-gal or aGal), are recognized as the causal factors of alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS; or red meat allergy) in humans. AGS occurs after the increased production of IgE antibodies against aGal, which is found in most mammalian cells, except for the Old World monkey and humans. The aGal sensitization event has been linked to an initial tick bite, followed by consumption of red meat containing the aGal glycan, which triggers the onset of the allergic response resulting in urticaria, anaphylaxis, or even death. In North America, the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, has been identified as the main culprit for AGS. However, only a subset of the human population exposed to lone star tick bites develops AGS. This suggests the presence of unidentified variables associated with the sensitization event. To evaluate the quantitative variations of the aGal in ticks, we evaluated the differences in aGal levels in different strains of A. americanum ticks partially fed on different blood sources using an artificial feeding system and animal hosts. We found significantly higher aGal levels in the female ticks fed on human blood than those fed on the blood of other mammals with large variations among different tick populations and individuals. We propose that host-specific genetic components in the A. americanum ticks are involved in the production of high aGal epitope in the tick saliva, which provides a part of the explanation for the variables associated with the AGS sensitization event of the tick bite.

Dynamic implications of the biological link between bovine milk and meat production for operationalizing the planetary health diet.

The EAT-Lancet planetary health diet (PHD) provides guidelines on a global scale and calls for red meat consumption to be halved. Operational PHD guidelines at country level have yet to be determined. Here we argue that the biological link between milk and bovine-meat production must be considered when operationalizing the globally calculated PHD to national contexts. Using a stylized computer simulation model rooted in a food system approach, we explore the impact of dietary scenarios on milk and bovine-meat production and show that ignoring this biological link can lead to substantial imbalances between national dietary guidelines and production outcomes and potentially lead to food waste. Furthermore, we assess current national dietary guidelines in Europe and find that most disregard this biological link and are incompatible with the PHD, with implications for policymakers and consumers to consider when adapting the PHD in national contexts.

US Adults’ Perceptions, Beliefs, and Behaviors towards Plant-Rich Dietary Patterns and Practices: International Food Information Council Food and Health Survey Insights, 2012–2022

Expert groups recommend that populations adopt dietary patterns higher in whole, plant-based foods and lower in red and processed meat as a high-impact climate action. Yet, there is limited understanding of populations’ willingness to adopt plant-rich dietary patterns. This study examined United States (US) adults’ perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors towards plant-rich dietary patterns and practices over a decade. Fifteen questions from the International Food Information Council’s Food and Health Surveys (2012–2022) were analyzed across four sustainability domains (i.e., human health, environmental, social, and economic domains). Most respondents had favorable perceptions of environmentally sustainable food and beverages, but sustainability influenced less than half of consumers’ purchase decisions. Plant-rich dietary pattern adherence increased across survey years (12.1% [2019] to 25.8% [2022], p &lt; 0.001). One-quarter (28.1%) of Americans reported reducing their red meat intake over 12 months (2020–2022). Yet, another 15.5% reported greater red meat intake, and 18.8% reported greater plant-based meat alternative (PBMA) intake over 12 months. The percentage of respondents who reported greater red meat and PBMA consumption in the previous 12 months significantly increased across the years surveyed (2020–2022, p &lt; 0.05). IFIC Survey findings highlight growing US consumer awareness of health, environmental, and social sustainability but low adoption of plant-rich dietary patterns and practices. Government leadership and coordinated actions by health professionals, civil society, and businesses are needed to educate and incentivize Americans to adopt plant-rich dietary behaviors, and greater industry transparency is needed to show how food and beverage products support human and planetary health.

S61 High Red Meat Consumption is Associated With Greater Risk of Ulcerative Colitis Flare

S61 High Red Meat Consumption is Associated With Greater Risk of Ulcerative Colitis Flare

An Econometric estimation of the determinants of red meat consumption in Egypt

An Econometric estimation of the determinants of red meat consumption in Egypt