Eating too much protein is bad for your arteries: study

By Sharin Hussain via SWNS

Eating too much protein is bad for your arteries, warns a new study.

American researchers found that excessive protein could increase atherosclerosis - a build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls.

Foods high in protein include meat, eggs, lentils and fish including salmon and cod.

Study senior author Dr. Babak Razani said: “Our study shows that dialing up your protein intake in pursuit of better metabolic health is not a panacea. You could be doing real damage to your arteries.”

The study, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, combined small human trials with experiments in mice and cells in a petri dish.

The consumption of more than 22 percent of dietary calories from protein can lead to increased activation of immune cells that plays a role in forming a dangerous blood plaque in your artery.

The research team also discovered that leucine, an amino acid enriched in animal-derived foods such as beef, eggs and milk is primarily responsible for abnormal macrophage, a white blood cell activation and atherosclerosis risk.

The findings suggest differences in leucine levels between diets enriched in plant and animal protein might explain the differences in their effect on heart, blood vessels and metabolic health.

Dr. Razani, of the University of Pittsburgh, added: “Our hope is that this research starts a conversation about ways of modifying diets in a precise manner that can influence body function at a molecular level and dampen disease risks.”

Data of the last decade revealed that Americans generally consume a lot of protein, mostly from animal sources.

Nearly a quarter of the population receives over 22 percent of all daily calories from protein alone.

Dr. Razani suggests that this trend is likely driven by the popular idea that dietary protein is essential to healthy living but they have found that too much protein may not be good for long term health.

He teamed up with Dr. Bettina Mittendorfer, a metabolism expert at the University of Missouri, Columbia, to examine the potential protein mechanism and its relevance to the human body.

Dr. Mittendorfer said: “We have shown in our mechanistic studies that amino acids, which are really the building blocks of the protein, can trigger disease through specific signalling mechanisms and then also alter the metabolism of these cells.

“For instance, small immune cells in the vasculature called macrophages can trigger the development of atherosclerosis.”

The findings are particularly relevant in hospital settings, where nutritionists often recommend protein-rich foods for the sickest patients to preserve muscle mass and strength.

Dr. Razani added: “Perhaps blindly increasing protein load is wrong.

“Instead, it’s important to look at the diet as a whole and suggest balanced meals that won’t inadvertently exacerbate cardiovascular conditions, especially in people at risk of heart disease and vessel disorders.

“The potential for this type of mechanistic research to inform future dietary guidelines is quite exciting.”