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Ananova:
Red meat molecule 'may cause health problems'
Eating red meat introduces a potentially dangerous non-human molecule into the body tissues, new
research has showed.
A study found that the molecule, a sugar only found in non-human mammals, is absorbed into tissues
such as blood vessels and secretory cells.
Tests showed that it can generate an immune response which might induce harmful inflammation.
The scientists have not ruled out a link with cancer and heart disease - although they acknowledge
that at present this is speculation.
To date, research has focused on the role of red meat saturated fats and chemical products that
arise from cooking.
The new study, led by scientists at the University of California in San Diego, USA, is the first to
investigate dietary absorption of a cell-surface sugar called N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc).
Humans are genetically unable to produce the molecule, which occurs naturally at high levels in
lamb, pork and beef. Only very low or undetectable amounts of the sugar are found in fruits,
vegetables, hen's eggs, poultry and fish.
Laboratory studies and tests on three human volunteers - all members of the research team -
confirmed that ingested Neu5Gc is absorbed into human tissues.
They also demonstrated that the body may view the molecule as a non-human invader and launch an
antibody-based immune response against it.
Although the sugar does not occur naturally in humans, other researchers have found traces of it in
human cancer tumours.
Story filed: 22:04 Monday 29th September 2003
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