Researchers noted that little is known about the health effects of dietary iron on cardiovascular risk in diabetes. So-called "heme iron" is iron derived from red meat, poultry and seafood. For this study, red meat was defined as beef, pork or lamb in a main dish, hamburger, hot dogs, processed meats and bacon.
The study found that heme iron intake was also associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and death, especially among postmenopausal women. Researchers believed that because premenopausal women lose a significant amount of iron during their monthly menstrual cycles, they may be less likely to develop coronary heart problems.
Researchers could not be certain how much of the heart disease link may have been due to saturated fats found in red meats. Saturated fats contain cholesterol, fatty deposits that clog blood vessels and lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.
The study was published in the January issue of Diabetes Care, the journal of the American Diabetes Association.
Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.
