Red meat linked to rheumatoid arthritis
Eating a large amount of red meat has been linked to an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to an Arthritis Research Campaign-funded study.
People who eat a large amount of red meat such as beef or lamb are at double the risk of developing RA than those who eat little red meat, according to a study published in the December edition of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.
The arc epidemiology unit at Manchester University studied the dietary habits of 25,000 people aged 45 to 75 over four years. Among those, they found 88 people diagnosed with RA, and compared their diets with those of a control group of 176 people to see how their eating habits differed.
Researchers suggest that something in meat, possibly collagen, could trigger an immune system response.
Professor Alan Silman, director of the epidemiology unit 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 RA." Routinely eating burgers and steak may only be "hazardous" to people with a predisposition to RA, he added.
The team also found that people who developed RA were more likely to be former smokers and who ate less food containing Vitamin C; two risk factors for RA already established by the epidemiology unit.
A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign said: "This 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.
"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."
