Does Eating Animal Protein Increase the Risk of IBD?

Over 1.4 million people suffer with inflammatory bowel disease, a group of diseases more commonly known as IBD. IBD is a term used to describe two conditions - ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease - both of which involve inflammation of the intestines. These diseases are believed to be autoimmune in nature although no one knows exactly what triggers the autoimmune response and the cascade of events that leads to inflammation.

As might be expected, diet and environmental exposures is believed to play a role in the risk of IBD. Now, a new study shows that the risk of these diseases may be greater in people who have a high intake of meat and animal protein. Should people with IBD or at high risk for the disease reduce their meat intake?

IBD and Diet: Is Eating Animal Protein a Risk Factor?

Researchers in France followed more than 60,000 French women between the ages of forty and sixty-five for ten years. During this time, the women filled out questionnaires about their diet every two years to quantify their intake of fat, carbohydrates, and protein.

The results? Women with the highest intakes of meat and animal protein were three times more likely to get inflammatory bowel disease compared to women who ate less animal-based protein. The researchers were careful to control for other factors such as smoking that could have altered the results.

Intake of Meat and IBD: What Types of Protein Increases the Risk?

Women who ate meat and fish were at higher risk for inflammatory bowel disease in this study, but no increased risk of IBD was seen with a diet rich in eggs or dairy products. Why meat boosts the risk of IBD isnt known. Experts hypothesize that digestion of meat may create breakdown products that lead to bowel inflammation - or that large amounts of animal protein alters the numbers of good bacteria in the colon which may be protective against IBD.

Diet and IBD: Is Eating Animal Protein Bad for IBD Sufferers?

More studies are needed to look at meat intake and how it affects IBD - and those at risk for this disease. Keep in mind that the women in this study ate a large amount of protein with most of them exceeding the recommended daily requirement. Whether or not animal protein at more typical levels affects the risk of IBD needs further research.

Until then, its best for IBD sufferers and those at high risk to avoid exceeding the recommended daily protein intake of 0.8 milligrams per kilogram of body weight until more is known. Getting protein from vegetarian sources and from dairy and eggs may be a better option than eating large quantities of meat and fish. Talk to your doctor about this.

References:

Family Practice News. June 1, 2010. page 41.