Vegetarian diet may increase risk of heart disease and cancer

[Plazma Inferno!]

Researchers have found evidence that a vegetarian diet has led to a genetic mutation that may increase people's risk of heart disease and colon cancer.
In a new study published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, researchers compared a primarily vegetarian population from Pune, India to a traditional meat-eating American population, mostly from Kansas. The researchers found a higher frequency of the mutation called "rs66698963" in the Indian population.
This mutation helps people convert plant fatty acids into important nutrients, including omega-6 arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is important for muscle growth and healthy neurological function in humans and is usually contained in meat, eggs and dairy.
However, arachidonic acid is also known for its pro-inflammatory and pro-blood clotting properties. Today, this genetic mutation can be a problem because omega-6 fats are readily available in an increasing number of foods and oils. Consequently, people with this mutation are retaining higher levels of arachidonic acid in their blood and tissues.

https://www.researchgate.net/blog/p...et-increases-risk-of-cancer-and-heart-disease

 

[origin]

They compared the genetics of a population from India and a population from Kansas and concluded the big difference in the 2 populations is diet? Seems like a much better study would have studied populations of vegetarian Indians VS meat eating Indians or vegetarians VS meat eaters from Kansas.

 

[ajanta]

Researchers have found evidence that a vegetarian diet has led to a genetic mutation that may increase people's risk of heart disease and colon cancer.
In a new study published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, researchers compared a primarily vegetarian population from Pune, India to a traditional meat-eating American population, mostly from Kansas. The researchers found a higher frequency of the mutation called "rs66698963" in the Indian population.
This mutation helps people convert plant fatty acids into important nutrients, including omega-6 arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is important for muscle growth and healthy neurological function in humans and is usually contained in meat, eggs and dairy.
However, arachidonic acid is also known for its pro-inflammatory and pro-blood clotting properties. Today, this genetic mutation can be a problem because omega-6 fats are readily available in an increasing number of foods and oils. Consequently, people with this mutation are retaining higher levels of arachidonic acid in their blood and tissues.

https://www.researchgate.net/blog/p...et-increases-risk-of-cancer-and-heart-disease

It's really interesting.....but I think not to vegetarians.

 

[Jeeves]

How many generations does it take to show significant differences, and in what conditions?
Um... today this can be a problem because more foods are readily available - where?? The people from Pune are not shopping in Kansas are they? How will this affect anyone making an informed dietary decision next week, in Montreal?

Yes, I know... Read the abstract! Only I don't care, because I'm not reproducing anyway.
Only, it does sound just a teensy bit like beef-lobby science.