Scientists from the University of Leeds’ Institute of Nutritional Epidemiology used data from 500,000 people, finding that eating 25g of processed meat per day, equivalent to one rasher of a bag, is associated with 44% increased risk of developing the disease.
But their findings also show that eating some unorganized red meat, such as beef, pork or veal, could be unhealthy, as people who ate 50g a day were 19% so likely to develop dementia.?
The researchers studied a possible link between meat consumption and the development of depression, a health condition that affects 5% -8% of people over 60 worldwide.
Their results, titled Meat Consumption and Event Risk of Depression: a cohort study of 493888 UK Biobank participants, are published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Lead researcher Huifeng Zhang, a PhD student from the University of Leeds School of Food and Nutrition Science, said: “Globally, the incidence of dementia is increasing and diet as a changing factor may play a role. Our research contributes to the growing body of evidence linking consumption of processed meat, to an increased risk for a range of non-communicable diseases. “?
The research was led by Professor Janet Cade and Professor Laura Hardie, both at Leeds.
The team investigated? Data provided by UK Biobank, a database containing in-depth genetic and health information from half a million UK participants? 40 to 69, to examine associations between eating different types of meat and the risk of developing depression. ??
The data included? How often? Partners? Eating different types of meat, with six choices from no more than one or more per day, collected in 2006-2010 by Biobank UK.? The study did not specifically assess the effect of a vegetable or vegan diet on dementia risk, but did include data from people who reported not eating red meat.?
Among participants, 2,896 cases of dementia appeared over eight years later.? These people were? Generally older, economically poorer, less educated, less likely to smoke, less physically active, more likely to have a history of stroke and a family history of dementia, and more likely to carry a gene that has a major association with depression. More men than women were diagnosed with dementia in the study population. ??
Some people were three to six times more likely to develop dementia due to well-established genetic factors, but the results show that the risks from eating processed meat were the same? Whether or not a person was prone to developing the disease.
Those who ate higher amounts of processed meat? They were more likely to be male, less educated, smokers, obese or obese, with lower levels of vegetables and fruits, and had more energy, protein and fat (including saturated fat). ?
Meat consumption has been associated with dementia risk in the past, but it is believed to be the first large-scale study of participants over time to examine the association between specific types and amounts of meat, and the risk of developing the disease.
There are approximately 50 million cases of dementia worldwide, with approximately 10 million new cases diagnosed each year. Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for 50% to 70% of cases, and viral depression about 25%. Development and improvement are linked to both genetic and environmental traits, including diet and lifestyle. ??
Ms? Zhang: “Further testing is needed, but the management of the effects associated with conventional healthy eating guidelines suggests that lower intake of unprocessed red meat may be beneficial to health.”
Dr Cade said: ‘Anything we can do to investigate potential risk factors for depression can help us reduce levels of this debilitating condition. This analysis is the first step toward understanding whether what we eat may affect that risk. ”
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For media inquiries contact Lauren Ballinger, Leeds University press officer [email protected].?
University of Leeds?
The University of Leeds is one of the largest institutions of higher education in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays an important role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Royce Institutes. ??
We are one of the top ten universities for research and the power of influence in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and we are in the top 100 of QS World University Rankings 201. ??
The University was awarded Gold by the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, “recognizing? The ‘consistently excellent’ teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have won National Teaching Fellowships – more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales – demonstrating the excellence of our teaching.?http:// www.
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