Study: Another danger found in eating red meat

The fat and cholesterol found in a steak may not be the only components bad for the heart, according to researchers who have found another substance in red meat that can clog the arteries.

The substance is called carnitine, and as bacteria in the gut breaks it down, it turns into a compound known to harden arteries, according to a study published Sunday in Nature Medicine.

What's more, people who eat a lot of meat allow more of the bacteria that convert carnitine to the harmful compound to grow, increasing its effect.

Research has shown that high levels of meat-eating are linked to cardiovascular risk, due in part to saturated fats and cholesterol. However, the higher levels of these ingredients aren't enough to explain the difference in heart disease between meat eaters and vegans or vegetarians. The study may explain the difference.

"The bacteria living in our digestive tracts are dictated by our long-term dietary patterns," said study author Stanley Hazen, of the Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic. "A diet high in carnitine actually shifts our gut microbe composition to those that like carnitine, making meat eaters even more susceptible."

The study followed 2,595 people.

Although carnitine is also found in fish, poultry, wheat and some vegetables, its main source is red meat, especially lamb, according to the University of Maryland. Because vegetarians and vegans eat fewer foods that contain it, their gut bacteria doesn't process it as easily, which may explain some of the health benefits of meatless diets.

-- Bloomberg News