Red meat link to arthritis risk

[Guest guest]

Now this doesn't make me happy, though I am not a big red meat eater:

Red meat link to arthritis risk

Eating a large amount of red meat has been linked to an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, scientists say.

A study showed people who ate meat every day had double the risk of the disease compared to those who ate meat less, perhaps twice a week.

Researchers studied the dietary habits of 25,000 people.

The University of Manchester study is published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes inflammation of the membrane lining the joint, causing them to feel tender, stiff and swollen. Around 387,000 in the UK have the condition.

Immune system trigger

Study participants were aged between 45 and 75 were recruited via GP lists between 1993 and 1997. All were asked to complete a seven-day food diary detailing exactly what they ate, and how large the portions were.

Red meat in itself is not dangerous to health, but should be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced, healthy diet

Arthritis Research Campaign spokeswoman Researchers then looked at the incidence of RAs among the group until 2002.

They found 88 people had been diagnosed with RA, or a related form of arthritis, and compared their diets with 176 healthy participants to see how their eating habits differed.

The researchers suggest something in meat, perhaps collagen, could trigger an immune system response, which may also affect joints.

Iron is another possible candidate. It has been shown to accumulate in the rheumatoid synovial membrane, causing tissue damage.

Other studies have shown Mediterranean countries, where red meat tends to feature less in diets, have lower levels of RA.

Vegetarian and vegan diets have also been linked to reduced risk.

Professor Alan Silman, Director of the Arthritis Research Campaign epidemiology unit at the University of Manchester, said: "Meat consumption may be linked to either additives or even infectious agents, but there is no evidence as to what might be important in relation to rheumatoid arthritis."

He added: "This is the first time this link has been made."

The people who developed RA were more likely to be former smokers and to eat less food containing vitamin C, but the researchers said the most significant difference between them was their meat-eating habits.

The team also found that eating more protein overall, including other forms of meat and plant protein, also increased the risk of developing RA, while eating fat did not seem to raise the risk.

Other risk factors

A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign, which funds the epidemiology unit, said: "This study provides further evidence that environmental factors can help to trigger rheumatoid arthritis.

"In the light of this new evidence we would suggest that as part of a healthy lifestyle, people should cut down the amount of red meat (beef and lamb) they eat."

She added: "We wouldn't want people to think that if they eat four burgers a week they are going to develop rheumatoid arthritis the following week because there are other risk factors that come into play - genetic susceptibility, smoking, low intake of Vitamin C.

"Red meat in itself is not dangerous to health, but should be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced, healthy diet."

Mo Atchia, a spokesman for Arthritis Care, added: "Diet has become an increasingly important factor in living with arthritis, and studies such as this one can only help our understanding of the way a person's diet can impact on their condition.

"A low-fat, high-fibre diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables for people with arthritis is vital to maintaining good general health."

Hugs, Jacy

~Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

jacymail@...IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087www.geocities.com/mtn_rose

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[Guest guest]

Hi Jacy,

I wouldn't worry too much about this or the various other studies

that keep cropping up. It seems they are trying to find causes for

RA - and since I already have the disease I no longer worry about

what might have 'caused' it - I'm just trying to keep it under

control!

I'm far more interested in what the scientists come up with that

might control or cure this disease ......

Beth

--- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " Jacy " <jacymail@c...>

wrote:

> Now this doesn't make me happy, though I am not a big red meat

eater:

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------

>

> Red meat link to arthritis risk

> Eating a large amount of red meat has been linked to an increased

risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, scientists say.

>

> A study showed people who ate meat every day had double the risk

of the disease compared to those who ate meat less, perhaps twice a

week.

> Researchers studied the dietary habits of 25,000 people.

>

> The University of Manchester study is published in the journal

Arthritis and Rheumatism.

>

> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes inflammation of the membrane

lining the joint, causing them to feel tender, stiff and swollen.

Around 387,000 in the UK have the condition.

>

> Immune system trigger

>

> Study participants were aged between 45 and 75 were recruited via

GP lists between 1993 and 1997. All were asked to complete a seven-

day food diary detailing exactly what they ate, and how large the

portions were.

>

> Red meat in itself is not dangerous to health, but should be

eaten in moderation as part of a balanced, healthy diet

>

> Arthritis Research Campaign spokeswoman

> Researchers then looked at the incidence of RAs among the group

until 2002.

>

> They found 88 people had been diagnosed with RA, or a related form

of arthritis, and compared their diets with 176 healthy participants

to see how their eating habits differed.

>

> The researchers suggest something in meat, perhaps collagen, could

trigger an immune system response, which may also affect joints.

>

> Iron is another possible candidate. It has been shown to

accumulate in the rheumatoid synovial membrane, causing tissue

damage.

>

> Other studies have shown Mediterranean countries, where red meat

tends to feature less in diets, have lower levels of RA.

>

> Vegetarian and vegan diets have also been linked to reduced risk.

>

> Professor Alan Silman, Director of the Arthritis Research Campaign

epidemiology unit at the University of Manchester, said: " Meat

consumption may be linked to either additives or even infectious

agents, but there is no evidence as to what might be important in

relation to rheumatoid arthritis. "

>

> He added: " This is the first time this link has been made. "

>

> The people who developed RA were more likely to be former smokers

and to eat less food containing vitamin C, but the researchers said

the most significant difference between them was their meat-eating

habits.

>

> The team also found that eating more protein overall, including

other forms of meat and plant protein, also increased the risk of

developing RA, while eating fat did not seem to raise the risk.

>

> Other risk factors

>

> A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign, which funds the

epidemiology unit, said: " This study provides further evidence that

environmental factors can help to trigger rheumatoid arthritis.

>

> " In the light of this new evidence we would suggest that as part

of a healthy lifestyle, people should cut down the amount of red

meat (beef and lamb) they eat. "

>

> She added: " We wouldn't want people to think that if they eat four

burgers a week they are going to develop rheumatoid arthritis the

following week because there are other risk factors that come into

play - genetic susceptibility, smoking, low intake of Vitamin C.

>

> " Red meat in itself is not dangerous to health, but should be

eaten in moderation as part of a balanced, healthy diet. "

>

> Mo Atchia, a spokesman for Arthritis Care, added: " Diet has become

an increasingly important factor in living with arthritis, and

studies such as this one can only help our understanding of the way

a person's diet can impact on their condition.

>

> " A low-fat, high-fibre diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables

for people with arthritis is vital to maintaining good general

health. "

>

>

>

> Hugs, Jacy ~Santa's helpers are

subordinate clauses.

>

>

> jacymail@c...

> IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087

> www.geocities.com/mtn_rose

>

>

>

>

> Want a signature like this?