Red Meat Allergy Causes Heart Disease

There is a linked sensitivity to an allergen called galactose-α-1,3-galactose, or alpha-Gal, a type of complex sugar which causes allergy in the red meat and builds up plaque in the arteries of the heart. High saturated fat present in red meat is known to cause heart disease in humans. The population is at a risk of this food allergen.  The first such kind of allergy was found among the small population in Virginia. These findings needs further clinical studies among large group of populations which differ from the geographical locations and a lot of other laboratory techniques.

Large percent of human population develops blood antibodies to this allergen which shows less symptoms around 20 percent among the population. The Lone Star tick was found in red meat, when it bites it sensitizes the allergen and produce allergy. The allergy increases based on the area  where the ticks were found in large numbers for example Southeastern United States, but also found in some other areas like Long Island, New York. These allergens might even causes change in immunological responses which might result in the build up of plaque and blocks the artery.

 A blood marker which is type of antibody specific to the allergen, alpha-Gal allergen is associated with chronic arterial plaque or deposits as a fat in the interior lining of the arteries. In order to identify the blood markers, blood samples from 118 adults were analyzed and antibodies for alpha-Gal was detected which showed the allergic sensitivity of red meat was 26 percent of them. To  link red meat allergens with coronary artery disease,  detailed animal and human studies was carried out to confirm the initial readings. The imaging procedure used to find the quantity of plaque showed 30 percent higher in the patients sensitized with alpha-Gal than in the patients who are non-sensitized. They act as a hallmark of atherosclerosis showing increased risk of heart attack or stroke. It needs to be come out with the new approach or target in order to prevent or treat the heart disease among the population of people sensitized to red meat. Some of them includes a healthy diet, like eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, Omega fatty acid containing foods are mostly recommended. The red meats can be consumed by people who are un allergic to it. Other good practice includes managing healthy weight, reducing stress, regular exercise and to avoid smoking.

The red meat allergy in United States is not much known, but its found out that the allergy was seen in 1% of the population in some area. To get rid of this disease is to avoid the consumption of red meat completely. The linolenic acid consumption resulted in low rate of CHD. That is 15% lower risk of CHD events and 21% lower risk of CHD deaths.