Overview

• Researchers at Capital Medical University fed mice pork, beef, or mutton daily for two weeks before inducing colitis with dextran sulfate sodium.
• All three red meat diets produced more severe colon inflammation compared with a standard diet in this experimental model.
• Microbiome analyses showed declines in Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Streptococcus, and Lactococcus with increases in Clostridium and Mucispirillum.
• Mice on red meat accumulated more myeloid cells, including neutrophils and macrophages, and showed elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in colon tissue.
• The study, published August 20 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, notes translational limits yet suggests reducing red meat intake as a potential preventive approach pending human data.