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Red Meat Consumption (Heme Iron Intake) and Risk for Diabetes and Comorbidities?

  • Lifestyle Management to Reduce Diabetes/Cardiovascular Risk (B Conway and H Keenan, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To examine the role of red meat consumption, especially heme iron intake, and risk for diabetes and its comorbidities.

Recent Findings

Studies consistently show that consumption of red meat has been contributory to a multitude of chronic conditions such as diabetes, CVD, and malignancies. There are various emerging reasons that strengthen this link—from the basic constituents of red meat like the heme iron component, the metabolic reactions that take place after consumption, and finally to the methods used to cook it. The causative links show that even occasional use raises the risk of T2DM.

Summary

Prior studies show how nitrites and nitrates in red meat can lead to increased insulin resistance, dysregulated blood glucose levels, and elevated oxidative stress all leading to chronic diseases. With the rise in these preventable chronic diseases, we examine how disease-causing links can be eliminated with appropriate lifestyle choices.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, 3313A, Robert C Byrd Health Sciences Center, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506-9190, USA

    Ranjita Misra

  2. Early Intervention, 1901 JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA

    Padmini Balagopal

  3. Department of Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition, Falk College, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA

    Sudha Raj

  4. Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Thakor G. Patel

Authors
  1. Ranjita Misra
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  2. Padmini Balagopal
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  3. Sudha Raj
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  4. Thakor G. Patel
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Correspondence to Ranjita Misra.

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Conflict of Interest

Ranjita Misra, Padmini Balagopal, Sudha Raj, and Thakor G. Patel declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Diabetes/Cardiovascular Risk

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Misra, R., Balagopal, P., Raj, S. et al. Red Meat Consumption (Heme Iron Intake) and Risk for Diabetes and Comorbidities?. Curr Diab Rep 18, 100 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-018-1071-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-018-1071-8

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