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Researchers from China observed that mice fed a red meat diet experienced more severe intestinal inflammation after colitis was experimentally induced compared to those on a control diet.
“These results highlight the necessity of dietary optimization, particularly the reduction of red meat consumption, as a preventive strategy against the development of IBD,” wrote Dan Tian, MD, PhD, with Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, and colleagues. The study was published online in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.
Environmental Trigger
The exact causes of IBD remain unclear, but diet has long been considered a key environmental trigger. Western dietary patterns, which often feature high consumption of red and processed meats and low fiber, have been associated with higher IBD rates, especially ulcerative colitis.
Tian and colleagues tested the aggravating effects of three red meat diets on intestinal inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and susceptibility to colitis in mice.
They fed mice red meat diets prepared from pork, beef, and mutton for 2 weeks before inducing colitis using dextran sulfate sodium. They monitored the animals for changes in weight, colon length, tissue damage, and immune activity.
Histological analysis revealed that all three red meat diets aggravated colonic inflammation, with mutton producing the most pronounced effects.
RNA sequencing of colon tissue further showed that red meat intake activated pathways linked to inflammation. “Notably,” expression off proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6, was significantly upregulated and expression of genes related to myeloid cell chemotaxis and activation was also increased, the researchers reported.
Flow cytometry confirmed that red meat diets promoted a surge in colonic myeloid immune cells, potentially driving inflammation. However, only minimal changes in T lymphocytes were observed, suggesting that red meat primarily drives innate immune rather than adaptive immune activation, they suggested.
While overall microbial diversity was not significantly altered, red meat-fed mice displayed marked dysbiosis.
Beneficial bacteria such as Streptococcus, Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, and Lactococcus declined, while harmful groups including Clostridium and Mucispirillum increased. Each type of meat had distinct microbial effects, but all skewed the balance toward potentially harmful bacteria known to promote gut inflammation.
Overall, these results suggest that red meat diets exacerbate colitis by simultaneously promoting immune cell infiltration and disturbing microbial communities in the gut.
The fact that these effects occurred without significant change in weight, suggests that red meat consumption exerts proinflammatory effects through mechanisms other than weight gain.
“These results offer valuable insights into the relationship between dietary interventions and IBD, suggesting that a balanced diet, adequate nutrients, and moderated red meat consumption may help prevent the development of IBD,” the researchers concluded.
In support of their findings, a 2024 umbrella review that synthesized data from multiple cohort and observational studies, found strong associations between Western-style dietary patterns — including high processed/red meat, saturated fats, and additives — and both the incidence and progression of IBD.
The study had no commercial funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Researchers from China observed that mice fed a red meat diet experienced more severe intestinal inflammation after colitis was experimentally induced compared to those on a control diet.
“These results highlight the necessity of dietary optimization, particularly the reduction of red meat consumption, as a preventive strategy against the development of IBD,” wrote Dan Tian, MD, PhD, with Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, and colleagues. The study was published online in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.
Environmental Trigger
The exact causes of IBD remain unclear, but diet has long been considered a key environmental trigger. Western dietary patterns, which often feature high consumption of red and processed meats and low fiber, have been associated with higher IBD rates, especially ulcerative colitis.
Tian and colleagues tested the aggravating effects of three red meat diets on intestinal inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and susceptibility to colitis in mice.
They fed mice red meat diets prepared from pork, beef, and mutton for 2 weeks before inducing colitis using dextran sulfate sodium. They monitored the animals for changes in weight, colon length, tissue damage, and immune activity.
Histological analysis revealed that all three red meat diets aggravated colonic inflammation, with mutton producing the most pronounced effects.
RNA sequencing of colon tissue further showed that red meat intake activated pathways linked to inflammation. “Notably,” expression off proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6, was significantly upregulated and expression of genes related to myeloid cell chemotaxis and activation was also increased, the researchers reported.
Flow cytometry confirmed that red meat diets promoted a surge in colonic myeloid immune cells, potentially driving inflammation. However, only minimal changes in T lymphocytes were observed, suggesting that red meat primarily drives innate immune rather than adaptive immune activation, they suggested.
While overall microbial diversity was not significantly altered, red meat-fed mice displayed marked dysbiosis.
Beneficial bacteria such as Streptococcus, Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, and Lactococcus declined, while harmful groups including Clostridium and Mucispirillum increased. Each type of meat had distinct microbial effects, but all skewed the balance toward potentially harmful bacteria known to promote gut inflammation.
Overall, these results suggest that red meat diets exacerbate colitis by simultaneously promoting immune cell infiltration and disturbing microbial communities in the gut.
The fact that these effects occurred without significant change in weight, suggests that red meat consumption exerts proinflammatory effects through mechanisms other than weight gain.
“These results offer valuable insights into the relationship between dietary interventions and IBD, suggesting that a balanced diet, adequate nutrients, and moderated red meat consumption may help prevent the development of IBD,” the researchers concluded.
In support of their findings, a 2024 umbrella review that synthesized data from multiple cohort and observational studies, found strong associations between Western-style dietary patterns — including high processed/red meat, saturated fats, and additives — and both the incidence and progression of IBD.
The study had no commercial funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Researchers from China observed that mice fed a red meat diet experienced more severe intestinal inflammation after colitis was experimentally induced compared to those on a control diet.
“These results highlight the necessity of dietary optimization, particularly the reduction of red meat consumption, as a preventive strategy against the development of IBD,” wrote Dan Tian, MD, PhD, with Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, and colleagues. The study was published online in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.
Environmental Trigger
The exact causes of IBD remain unclear, but diet has long been considered a key environmental trigger. Western dietary patterns, which often feature high consumption of red and processed meats and low fiber, have been associated with higher IBD rates, especially ulcerative colitis.
Tian and colleagues tested the aggravating effects of three red meat diets on intestinal inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and susceptibility to colitis in mice.
They fed mice red meat diets prepared from pork, beef, and mutton for 2 weeks before inducing colitis using dextran sulfate sodium. They monitored the animals for changes in weight, colon length, tissue damage, and immune activity.
Histological analysis revealed that all three red meat diets aggravated colonic inflammation, with mutton producing the most pronounced effects.
RNA sequencing of colon tissue further showed that red meat intake activated pathways linked to inflammation. “Notably,” expression off proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6, was significantly upregulated and expression of genes related to myeloid cell chemotaxis and activation was also increased, the researchers reported.
Flow cytometry confirmed that red meat diets promoted a surge in colonic myeloid immune cells, potentially driving inflammation. However, only minimal changes in T lymphocytes were observed, suggesting that red meat primarily drives innate immune rather than adaptive immune activation, they suggested.
While overall microbial diversity was not significantly altered, red meat-fed mice displayed marked dysbiosis.
Beneficial bacteria such as Streptococcus, Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, and Lactococcus declined, while harmful groups including Clostridium and Mucispirillum increased. Each type of meat had distinct microbial effects, but all skewed the balance toward potentially harmful bacteria known to promote gut inflammation.
Overall, these results suggest that red meat diets exacerbate colitis by simultaneously promoting immune cell infiltration and disturbing microbial communities in the gut.
The fact that these effects occurred without significant change in weight, suggests that red meat consumption exerts proinflammatory effects through mechanisms other than weight gain.
“These results offer valuable insights into the relationship between dietary interventions and IBD, suggesting that a balanced diet, adequate nutrients, and moderated red meat consumption may help prevent the development of IBD,” the researchers concluded.
In support of their findings, a 2024 umbrella review that synthesized data from multiple cohort and observational studies, found strong associations between Western-style dietary patterns — including high processed/red meat, saturated fats, and additives — and both the incidence and progression of IBD.
The study had no commercial funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.