A study has demonstrated that reducing consumption of red and processed meat has little impact on health, contrary to popular belief.
Researchers at McMaster and Dalhousie universities revealed that most adults should continue to eat their current levels of red and processed meat. The study involved four systematic reviews focused on randomized controlled trials and observational studies analyzing the effect of meat consumption on cardiometabolic and cancer outcomes.
Results showed that there is no statistically significant relationship between meat consumption and the risk of heart disease, diabetes or cancer. However, the researchers discovered a very small reduction in risk among those who had three fewer servings of red or processed meat in a week, but the relationship was uncertain.
McMaster professor Gordon Guyatt, chair of the guideline committee, said: "There is a worldwide interest in nutrition and the issue of red meat in particular. People need to be able to make decisions about their own diet based on the best information available."
Meanwhile, Bradley Johnston, corresponding author on the reviews and guideline, argued that the results of the study were contrary to current nutritional guidelines, saying: "This is not just another study on red and processed meat, but a series of high quality systematic reviews resulting in recommendations we think are far more transparent, robust and reliable. We focused exclusively on health outcomes, and did not consider animal welfare or environmental concerns when making our recommendations."
He added: "We are however sympathetic to animal welfare and environmental concerns with a number of the guideline panel members having eliminated or reduced their personal red and processed meat intake for these reasons."
The study authors pointed out: "This is sure to be controversial, but is based on the most comprehensive review of the evidence to date. Because that review is inclusive, those who seek to dispute it will be hard pressed to find appropriate evidence with which to build an argument."
