title: Meat consumption and risk of primary hip and knee joint replacement due to osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is emerging evidence for a beneficial effect of meat consumption on the musculoskeletal system. However, whether it affects the risk of knee and hip osteoarthritis is unknown. We performed a prospective cohort study to examine the relationship between meat consumption and risk of primary hip and knee replacement for osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible 35,331 participants were selected from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study recruited during 1990-1994. Consumption of fresh red meat, processed meat, chicken, and fish was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Primary hip and knee replacement for osteoarthritis during 2001-2005 was determined by linking the cohort records to the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a negative dose-response relationship between fresh red meat consumption and the risk of hip replacement (hazard ratio (HR) 0.94 per increase in intake of one time/week, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-0.98). In contrast, there was no association with knee replacement risk (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94-1.02). Consumption of processed meat, chicken and fish were not associated with risk of hip or knee replacement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high level consumption of fresh red meat was associated with a decreased risk of hip, but not knee, joint replacement for osteoarthritis. One possible mechanism to explain these differential associations may be via an effect of meat intake on bone strength and hip shape. Further confirmatory studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Julie Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Anita E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Wluka
authors.forename: Dallas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: Graham G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Flavia M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cicuttini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies