Researchers discover new link between red meat and heart disease

Researchers discover new link between red meat and heart disease.

Researchers discover new link between red meat and heart disease

 

The researchers discovered that bacteria residing in the human digestive tract help turn the compound carnitine into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite that has previously been linked to the furtherance of atherosclerosis in humans. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic have discovered a new link between red meat and heart disease. Reporting in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers noted that a compound plentiful in read meats has been shown to increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

 The researchers discovered that bacteria residing in the human digestive tract help turn the compound carnitine into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite that has previously been linked to the furtherance of atherosclerosis in humans. They also learned that a diet high in foods that contain carnitine encourages the growth of bacteria that metabolize carnitine, complicating the problem by generating even more TMAO.
The researchers discovered that raised carnitine levels in patients foretold increased risks for heart disease in subjects with concurrently high TMAO levels. They also found that baseline TMAO levels were much lower among vegans and vegetarians than meat eaters.
According to the Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Stanley Hazen, bacteria residing in our digestive tracts are impacted by our long-term dietary patterns. A diet high in carnitine changes our gut microbe composition to those that enjoy carnitine. This means that meat eaters are more likely to form TMAO than vegans and vegetarians.
 While prior research has demonstrated that red meat consumption is linked to increase heart disease risk, there wasn’t enough evidence to suggest that cholesterol and saturated fat content in red meat could completely explain the increased cardiovascular risk.
“Carnitine metabolism suggests a new way to help explain why a diet rich in red meat promotes atherosclerosis,” said Dr. Hazen. Not only is carnitine found in red meats, it’s also a dietary supplement.
 Dr. Hazen noted that additional research should be conducted to determine the safety of long-term carnitine supplementation.
 According to the researchers, carnitine is not an essential nutrient.

Source Link:www.sciencerecorder.com