http://www.healthsentinel.com/org_news.php?event=org_news_print_list_item&id=054

Roman Bystrianyk, "Meat and Dairy Increase The Risk of Heart Disease",
Health Sentinel, September 7, 2005,

Since the popularity of the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet and other
high protein diets, many Americans are avoiding carbohydrates in favor
of meat and high fat dairy sources such as cheese. Little information
is available on the long-term effects of these diets on human health
although studies show a strong correlation between countries with high
animal protein intake and coronary heart disease [CHD], although
short-term ecologic studies show a favorable effect on blood fats and a
lower risk of ischemic (decreased blood flow to the heart) heart
disease.

A 20-year follow-up study of over 25,000 California Seventh-day
Adventists showed a positive association between meat consumption and
ischemic heart disease. A 14-year follow-up study in over 80,000 women
showed a significant increased risk of major CHD events. In that same
study, a subgroup of over 57,000 postmenopausal women showed that
processed meats, such as hog dogs, bacon, sausage, salami, and bologna,
was associated with a 44% increased risk of CHD.

Studies on that animal protein fed to rabbits increase plaque formation
in the arteries independent of dietary fat and cholesterol, whereas soy
protein fed to rabbits did not show such a relationship, and other
studies consistently show the positive effect soy protein has on blood
fats. More recently, studies have shown a positive association between
consumption of meat that has been fried, barbecued, or broiled with the
development of several cancers, where the connection is explained by
the creation of potent and bioavailable carcinogenic heterocyclic
amines.

A study in the February issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology
examined the long-term relationship of protein intake of over 29,000
postmenopausal women followed over 15 years. The authors found that
there was a 30% increased risk of CHD in the group that had the highest
animal protein intake compared to the group that had more vegetable
protein. The authors also found that, "A composite of red and
processed meat servings in place of carbohydrate food servings was
associated with a 44 percent increase risk of CHD mortality, and a
similar increased risk was observed with dairy servings."

The authors note that the increased risk of CHD may be because animal
protein contains large amounts of methionine. Methionine is an amino
acid that eventually increases homocysteine levels in the body.
Homocysteine has been shown in many studies to be a significant risk
factor in heart disease.

The authors conclude that, "our results, together with the lack of
benefit to sustained weight loss due to consumption of
high-animal-protein diet such as promoted by Atkins and tested in a
recent randomized trial, do not support any salutary gain of these
diets and suggest potential harm. Long-term adherence to popular
high-protein diets, without discrimination toward protein source, may
have potentially adverse health consequences."

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, February 2005