Eating red meat may increase the likelihood of developing irritable bowel disease, while pea protein may have a protective effect, new research suggests.
Irritable bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe conditions that cause severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
The main types include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is long-term, causing blood or mucus in the stool, fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
There are now more than half a million people in the UK living with IBD, with another 25,000 diagnosed with Crohn’s and Colitis every year.
It is not known exactly what causes the disease, but studies have suggested that oversensitive nerves in the gut, stress and genetics can play a role.
It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy bowel cells, causing inflammation in the intestines and life-long disease.
Previous research has also linked lifestyle factors including diets high in hard-to-digest fibres and a lack of exercise with more severe symptoms.
Now researchers from The American Gastroenterological Association say that red meat may worsen IBD, while other protein sources could help protect the gut.
Crohn’s disease is characterized by persistent diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain and fatigue. These are often accompanied by weight loss, diminished appetite, fever and rectal bleeding
The study – published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology – set out to better understand the linked between different protein sources and the risk of developing IBD, or relapsing.
The researchers found that mice fed a beef-based diet developed the most severe intestinal inflammation.
Those who were fed peas as their main source of protein showed only mild symptoms.
The researchers concluded that plant-based alternatives to red meat could help protect the gut – with eggs and soy proteins faring better than beef across multiple IBD models.
But in each case, pea protein remained the most effective against IBD flare-ups, suggesting it could play a key role in shaping gut health.
The researchers suggested that the differences in inflammation could be driven by how gut microbes interact with the gut lining and acids in the gut – processes that can either promote or reduce inflammation.
The gut is home to trillions of bacteria, some of which are beneficial and help protect against disease. Others are more harmful and can trigger immune responses.
The gut barrier is supposed to keep harmful substances out of the bloodstream while letting beneficial nutrients enter the gut.
If this barrier is strong and intact, inflammation will be minimal, but when it becomes damaged or ‘leaky’ it can drive an inflammatory response.
The team concluded these findings highlight the potential for diet – especially choices centered on protein source – to help managed IBD.
While red meat may have a number of health benefits – as it contains iron, zinc, phosphorus and B vitamins essential for brain and heart health – UK guidance permits just 70g of red and processed meat daily.
It comes following new research which found that cutting out meat may also reduce the risk of some cancers, while increasing the risk of bowel cancer.
There is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease and treating its milder forms presents a significant challenge.
With no dedicated drugs for mild Crohn’s, doctors are left to face a risky dilemma: prescribe powerful immunosuppressants that can be taken for life but increase infection risk, or short-term corticosteroids that carry long-term risks of weight gain, bone loss and diabetes.
However, the diet treatment burden is low and easier to adhere to than a lifetime of pills and injections, experts say.