If you take a red meat nutrient as a supplement for weight loss, or to improve your muscle growth wellness, you may actually be harming your heart health. This is according to a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, which found that L-carnitine capsules, which are widely available in health food stores and online, may damage your heart and arteries.
These supplements are said to burn fat, build muscle, and even improve the wellbeing of people with heart conditions. However, this new study indicates that in individuals with raised levels of TMAO (a potentially harmful compound produced more by meat eaters than vegetarians or vegans) high levels of L-carnitine in the blood were associated with heart disease.
Led by Dr Stanley Hazen from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, US, the researchers wrote, ‘Discovery of a link between L-carnitine ingestion, gut microbiota metabolism and CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk has broad health-related implications. Our studies reveal a new pathway potentially linking dietary red meat ingestion with atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).’
They continued, ‘Our studies have public health relevance as L-carnitine is a common over-the-counter dietary supplement. Our results suggest that the safety of chronic L-carnitine supplementation should be examined, as high amounts of orally ingested L-carnitine may under some conditions foster growth of gut microbiota with an enhanced capacity to produce TMAO and potentially advance atherosclerosis.’
Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, commented, ‘This is certainly an interesting discovery and sheds some light on why red meat might have an impact on heart health. While the findings won’t necessarily mean a change to existing recommendations, these scientists have served up a good reminder for us to think about alternative sources of protein if we regularly eat a lot of red or processed meats.’
She added, ‘The odd meat-free day isn’t such a bad thing and eating less meat automatically leaves room in your diet for other foods high in protein like fish, pulses, nuts and eggs, all of which should be part of a nutritious and varied diet. Unless told otherwise by a doctor or qualified health professional, we should be able to get all the nutrients we need from a healthy, balanced diet without additional supplements.’