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Medical experts have long included steak near the top of their list of foods you ought to limit to prevent cardiovascular disease. The high levels of artery-clogging cholesterol and fat in red meat definitely turn it into a menu item to lessen or eliminate for a heart-healthy diet. But a recent study suggests that there may be more towards the problem of red meat than just the most obvious.
“Cholesterol, saturated fats and salt only account for a tiny little piece of the risk,” said study co-author Dr. Stanley Hazen from the Cleveland Clinic inside a statement. The study suggests that intestinal microbes, or “gut bacteria,” may play a significant role as well.
Red meat, as well as some energy drinks and body-building supplements, includes a nutrient called L-carnitine. The study discovered that when bacteria within the digestive system of the non-vegetarian feed on L-carnitine, an artery-hardening chemical is created as a byproduct. Based on the researchers, the presence of this byproduct, called trimethylamine N-oxide or TMAO, is a solid danger signal of a potential stroke or heart attack, when found in high levels.
Interestingly, test subjects within the study who were long-established vegetarians or vegans produced almost no TMAO, despite consuming red meat for the study. Only subjects who already include red meat within their regular diet showed noticeable levels of TMAO in their blood. This result was attributed to differences in this enzymatic tract bacteria make-up between those who regularly consumed meat and those who didn’t.
“The composition of bacteria living in our digestive tracts is dictated by our long-term dietary patterns,” said Dr. Hazen. “A diet full of carnitine actually shifts our gut microbe composition to those that like carnitine, making meat eaters even more susceptible to forming TMAO, which helps promote atherosclerosis.”? Atherosclerosis, or “hardening from the arteries,” is really a disease in which plaque accumulates in the arteries, restricting blood flow.
Researchers hope that testing for TMAO can provide physicians new insight in determining an individual’s heart disease risk. The American Heart Association (AHA) named this discovery among their top 10 advances in heart disease and stroke science for 2013.?
“Regardless of how atherosclerosis develops, the important thing is to maintain a general heart-healthy lifestyle to help prevent cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Kunal Bodiwala, a cardiologist with Advocate Medical Group in Normal, Ill. “Following the AHA dietary guidelines, which are rich in vegetables and fruit, whole grains and fish while conservative with sugar and salt, is the best method to modify your eating routine. Don’t smoke, get regular exercise, and manage your weight, blood pressure level, cholesterol and blood sugar. All these things together are your strongest defense.”
