Beef Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Cardiovascular Health
• Dietary Research

Background:

• Observational studies link red meat to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
• Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have not conclusively demonstrated this association.
• The specific impact of beef, a widely consumed red meat, on CVD risk factors requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze RCT data.
• To evaluate the effects of minimally or unprocessed beef intake on CVD risk factors in adults.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search of PubMed and CENTRAL databases.
• Included RCTs in adults comparing diets with beef to those with less or no beef.
• Extracted data and performed random-effects meta-analyses, calculating standardized mean differences (SMDs).
• Performed sensitivity and subgroup analyses.

Main Results:

• Twenty RCTs were included in the analysis.
• Beef intake did not significantly affect blood pressure or most lipoprotein variables (total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, non-HDL, apolipoproteins, VLDL).
• A small, significant increase in LDL cholesterol (0.11; P=0.03) was observed with higher beef intake, but this effect was lost upon sensitivity analysis removing an influential study.

Conclusions:

• Daily unprocessed beef intake does not significantly alter most blood lipids, apolipoproteins, or blood pressures.
• A minor increase in LDL cholesterol was noted, but its significance is questionable.
• Further research is needed to explore other factors influencing the association between beef consumption and CVD risk.