Macro partitioning
Higher intake of processed meat, unprocessed red meat, or poultry is significantly associated with an increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereas fish intake is not significantly associated with CVD risk.
If you are concerned about heart disease, be mindful of processed meats and unprocessed red meats, as higher intake is linked to a small increase in risk. However, you do not need to eliminate poultry or fish, as this study found no significant link between their consumption and cardiovascular disease. Focus on the type and quantity of meat rather than avoiding all meat.
Intake of processed meat (adjusted HR, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.04-1.11]; adjusted ARD, 1.74% [95% CI, 0.85%-2.63%]), unprocessed red meat (adjusted HR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.01-1.06]; adjusted ARD, 0.62% [95% CI, 0.07%-1.16%]), or poultry (adjusted HR, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.01-1.06]; adjusted ARD, 1.03% [95% CI, 0.36%-1.70%]) was significantly associated with incident CVD. Fish intake was not significantly associated with incident CVD (adjusted HR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.98-1.02]; adjusted ARD, 0.12% [95% CI, −0.40% to 0.65%]).
Why this rating
Large pooled cohort (N=29,682), long follow-up (median 19 years), harmonized data, and rigorous adjustment for confounders.
Source
Associations of Processed Meat, Unprocessed Red Meat, Poultry, or Fish Intake With Incident Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality
Victor W. Zhong et al. · JAMA Internal Medicine · 2020
DOI 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.6969
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