Meat Consumption and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women : A Population-Based Cohort Study

• Background/Purpose: Mixed results have been reported for the association between meat consumption and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between red meat, particularly processed meat, and the risk of RA using data from a population-based cohort of women.Methods: We prospectively followed 35,600 women aged 48-83 years from the Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC), between 2003 and 2014. Meat consumption was assessed with a 96-item self-administered questionnaire in 1997. A corresponding questionnaire data from 1987 was available, enabling identification of long-term meat consumption. The relative risk (RR) of RA associated with meat consumption and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, body mass index, educational level, physical activity, use of dietary supplements, energy intake, and smoking.Results: During the 12 years of follow-up (381 456 person years), 368 new cases of rheumatoid arthritis were identified. Meat consumption was not associated with the development of RA in age-adjusted (RR=0.96 (95% CI: 0.69-1.32)) or multivariable adjusted (RR=1.08 (95%CI: 0.77-1.53)) models (Table 1). No association was observed either for consumption of type-specific meat, such as red meat (RR=1.08 (95% CI: 0.77-1.50)), processed meat (RR=0.84 (95% CI: 0.59-1.22)), or poultry (RR=0.88 (95% CI: 0.60-1.31)). , Women with a consistent long-term consumption of meat of >7 servings/week over a period of 10 years had no increased risk of RA, HR 1.19 (95% CI: 0.78-1.80), compared to women with a consistent consumption of <=4 servings/week.Conclusion: In this large population-based cohort study, meat consumption, in total, by sub-types, or over time, was not associated with the risk of RA development in women.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reumatologi och inflammation (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Rheumatology and Autoimmunity (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)