Associations between Red Meat Intakes and the Micronutrient Intake and Status of UK Females: A Secondary Analysis of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey

Abstract

Blanket health messages to lower red meat intakes are being communicated at present. These could have adverse implications on the micronutrient quality of women’s diets. The current paper evaluates the nutritional impact of lower red meat intakes on British women’s micronutrient intakes and status. A secondary analysis of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey was undertaken using data from years 2008/2009 to 2011/2012. This was comprised of dietary and blood analyte data from 1384 and 641 females aged 11 to 64 years. Females consuming less than 40 g total red meat daily were more likely to have micronutrient intakes below the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) for zinc, iron, vitamin B12 and potassium and have lower habitual vitamin D intakes than females consuming between 40 and 69 g daily. After adjusting data for energy intake, zinc (% below the LRNI) and vitamin D (μg/day) remained statistically significant (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed for blood biomarkers. Females consuming diets lower in red meat, i.e., <40 g daily, appear to have reduced micronutrient intakes, especially in the case of zinc and vitamin D. This should be considered when giving blanket advice for whole populations to reduce red meat intakes.

Red meat, poultry and fish consumption and risk of diabetes: a 9 year prospective cohort study of the China Kadoorie Biobank

“…vitamin B 12 ) and minerals (e.g. zinc and iron) [31]. Consumption of red meat, however, has been associated with higher risks of several chronic diseases, including diabetes, in western populations.…”

Greenhouse gas emissions of self-selected diets in the UK and their association with diet quality: is energy under-reporting a problem?

“…Thus, this study provides further evidence based on self-selected diet that reducing meat consumption is likely to contribute to lower diet-related GHGE [ 2 ], as indicated in modeling studies [ 49 , 54 , 55 ]. Nevertheless, avoidance or lower intake of animal foods such as red meat may also contribute to nutritional inadequacy of several micronutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin B-12 [ 56 ]. In any case, further research is required to determine the amount of meat consumption (particularly red meat) which is optimum for not only human health but also for the health of the planet.…”

Contributing factors to iron deficiency anemia in women in Jordan: A single-center cross-sectional study

“…The following data was captured by the registry: 1) general patient profile: name, national identification number, gender, age, smoking status and co-morbid conditions; 2) laboratory tests: complete blood count (i.e. hemoglobin level, white cell count [WBC] and WBC differential, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, platelet count), reticulocytes count, ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum B 12 , folate level, lactate dehydrogenase, direct and indirect anti-globulin tests (Coombs test when needed), hepcidin level (when available), soluble transferrin receptor (sTf) (when available), blood film, hemoglobin electrophoresis (when applicable), celiac disease tests (when applicable; tissue transglutaminase antibodies A and G [tTG-IgA, tTG-IgG] were considered positive if titer was >10.0 U/mL and or >9.0 U/mL, respectively) and fecal occult blood; 3) gastrointestinal endoscopy: upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (if performed) with a biopsy from the abnormal areas and colonoscopy (if performed) with a biopsy from the abnormal areas; 4) documentation of menstrual periods: assessment of menstrual blood loss was done using a pictorial chart based on patient’s history and was considered regular if menstrual flow occurred every 21–35 days and lasted two to seven days with pads lightly soiled [ 11 ] heavy if there were blood clots or bleeding lasting more than seven days with pads moderately soiled, and very heavy if multiple pads were saturated during the menstrual flow period each day or if the patient had a gynecological procedure such as myomectomy or dilation and curettage to deal with menorrhagia; 5) assessment of nutritional status: iron nutritional status was assessed based on the average consumption of red meat or processed red meat per week, and was divided into three main categories: a) poor iron nutritional status (strict vegetarian or vegan patients with no red meat consumption), b) poor iron nutritional status (patients consuming red meat or processed red meat [less than 200 g per week] once a week or less), c) normal iron nutritional status (patients who consume red meat or processed red meat [350 g per week] twice per week or more [ 12 , 13 ]; 6) treatment: if given, blood transfusion units were documented and intravenous iron treatment was also documented; and 7) the number of pregnancies was documented regardless of pregnancy outcome (a gravida). The number of pregnancies reaching viable gestational age was also recorded (parity).…”

“…Gravida was categorized as none (never pregnant), multigravida (less than 5 pregnancies) or grand multigravida (≥5 pregnancies). Parity was defined as fetus reaching a gestational age ≥20 weeks [ 13 ]. Parity was also categorized as none (never pregnant or fetus not reaching the gestational age of ≥20 weeks), multiparous or grand multiparous (<5 or ≥5 fetuses reaching the age of viability, respectively) [ 14 ].…”