Guest guest Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 > Red meat 'cancer threat' > > > There are health concerns over red meat > Eating red meat introduces a potentially dangerous molecule into the > body tissues, according to researchers. > Scientists from the University of California in San Diego believe it > could cause heart disease and cancer by triggering a harmful immune > response. > > Humans cannot produce the molecule - a type of sugar - but it occurs > at high levels in lamb, pork and beef. > > The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy > of Sciences. > > Human volunteers > > Several studies have associated red meat diets with cancer and heart > disease. > > But these have focused on saturated fats and chemicals produced during > the cooking process. > > It could be that the damage only builds up over years > > Professor Ajit Varki > The new research focuses on a sugar called N-glycolylneuraminic acid > (Neu5Gc). > > Tests on three human volunteers - all members of the research team - > confirmed that if the sugar is present in the diet, it is absorbed into body > tissues such as the blood vessels. > > The tests also suggested that because the molecule is not naturally > present in the body, it is viewed as an invader by the immune system, which > is sparked into action. > > Lead researcher Professor Ajit Varki said the molecule was almost > certainly not immediately toxic, and it was possible that humans had built > up a tolerance after hundreds of thousands of years of eating meat. > > "It could be that the damage only builds up over years," he said. > > "However, we are now living longer and the question arises whether the > gradual accumulation of Neu5Gc and the simultaneous presence of antibodies > against could be involved in some diseases of later life." > > Animal transplants > > Professor Varki said the molecule may be one of the main obstacles in > the path of developing animal-to-human organ transplants. > > Scientists are trying to find ways to stop the powerful immune > response that occurs when a pig organ is put into a human. > > The three scientists who were involved in the study drank a solution > of Neu5Gc purified from pork. > > Tests showed that most of the molecule was eliminated by the body, but > small amounts were absorbed into the body. > > About two days after ingestion, Neu5Gc levels were raised two or > three-fold. > > By four to eight days, levels had dropped almost to their original > level. > > Good evidence' > > Dr Julie Sharp, from Cancer Research UK, said a third of all cancers > were linked to diet. > > "There is good evidence that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and > fibre and low in fat and red meat can reduce the risk of the disease. > > "However these results are preliminary and were obtained from analysis > of only three individuals. > > "Large-scale population studies would be needed to prove if this > molecule has any role in human disease including cancer." > > A spokesman for the British Dietetic Association told BBC News Online: > "We would encourage people to eat a balanced diet based mainly on starchy > carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables with small amounts of protein from a > variety of sources, including diary, vegetables, meat, fish and poultry." > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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