(P16-030-23) Effect of Including Lean Red Meat in a Plant-Based Dietary Pattern on Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Disease Risk

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of dietary patterns, varying in red meat quantity, on clinical biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk in women with overweight.

Methods: Secondary analyses were performed using plasma samples collected within a randomized, crossover design study in 17 women (mean ± SEM, age: 33±1y; BMI: 27.8±0.1kg/m²) who consumed a plant-based diet containing either 0 or 2 servings of red meat/d for 1 wk/pattern. A 3-wk washout period occurred between patterns. Participants were provided with eucaloric, isonitrogenous plant-based diets containing 3 daily meals (28% of daily calories/meal) and an evening snack (16% of daily calories) that differed only in protein source. The protein sources in the plant-based diet without red meat (MEATLESS) were 100% plant-based, whereas the plant-based diet with red meat (RED MEAT) replaced a portion of plant protein with 2 servings/d of lean beef. Fasting blood samples were collected at the end of each dietary pattern for the assessment of plasma glucose, insulin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), and adiponectin via colorimetric (glucose) and enzyme-linked immunoassays. Paired sample t-tests were utilized to compare the main effect of protein source (RED MEAT vs. MEATLESS) on fasting plasma biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk. P< 0.05 was considered significant. Additional ongoing analyses include the evaluation of plasma amino acids and querying expression of a microRNA (miRNA) panel associated with metabolic disease risks via qPCR.

Results: No differences in plasma fasting glucose (76.67±2.08 vs. 76.48±1.98mg/dL); insulin (45.89±5.47 vs. 46.31±5.49pmol/L); IL-6 (1.18±0.27 vs. 1.13±0.30pg/mL); TNF-α (4.11±0.30 vs. 4.13±0.24pg/mL); CRP (0.37±0.07 vs. 0.41±0.09mg/dL); or adiponectin (10.53±1.52 vs. 10.35±1.36ug/mL) concentrations were detected when comparing RED MEAT vs. MEATLESS dietary patterns.

Conclusions: The consumption of as much as 2 servings of lean red meat/d does not negatively influence inflammatory or metabolic signals related to cardiometabolic disease risk. These findings suggest that lean red meat can serve as a nutrient-dense protein source within a healthy dietary pattern.

Funding Sources: The Beef Checkoff; not official Army/DoD policy