title: Processed Meat, but Not Unprocessed Red Meat, Is Inversely Associated with Leukocyte Telomere Length in the Strong Heart Family Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences (TTAGGG) and their associated proteins at the end of eukaryote chromosomes. Telomere length shortens throughout the lifespan with each cell division, and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is often used as a biomarker of cellular aging. LTL is related to many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, to our knowledge, the relation between LTL and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, such as dietary intake of processed meat and unprocessed red meat, is largely unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the associations of processed meat intake and unprocessed red meat intake with LTL.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study comprised 2846 American Indians from the Strong Heart Family Study who participated in the 2001-2003 examination. Dietary factors, including past-year consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat, were assessed with the use of a 119-item Block Food-Frequency Questionnaire. LTL was measured with the use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the associations of intake of processed meat and unprocessed red meat with LTL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumption of processed meat was negatively associated with LTL after adjustment for age, sex, site, education, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and other dietary factors. For every additional daily serving of processed meat, LTL was 0.021 units (telomeric product-to-single-copy gene ratio) shorter (β ± SE = -0.021 ± 0.008, P = 0.009). No association was observed between the intake of unprocessed red meat and LTL (β ± SE = 0.008 ± 0.011, P = 0.46).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the Strong Heart Family Study, consumption of processed meat, but not unprocessed red meat, was associated with shorter LTL, a potential mediator for several age-related diseases. Further studies are needed to better understand the biological mechanism by which processed meat intake influences cellular aging.
authors: Departments of Epidemiology and amfretts@u.washington.edu.
authors: Amanda M
authors: AM
authors: Fretts
authors: Georgetown and Howard Universities Center for Translational Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors: Barbara V
authors: BV
authors: Howard
authors: New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY.
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Siscovick
authors: Missouri Breaks Industries Research, Inc, Timber Lake, SD.
authors: Lyle G
authors: LG
authors: Best
authors: Departments of Epidemiology and.
authors: Shirley Aa
authors: SA
authors: Beresford
authors: MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC.
authors: Mihriye
authors: M
authors: Mete
authors: Zinman College for Physical Education and Sports, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel; and.
authors: Sigal
authors: S
authors: Eilat-Adar
authors: Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors: Nona
authors: N
authors: Sotoodehnia
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.
authors: Jinying
authors: J
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D000069466:Red Meat; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids
keywords: American Indians; diet; processed meat; telomeres; unprocessed red meat