High red meat intake may increase serum concentrations of insulin, glucose, and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers.

This research work was carried out to determine the effect of red meat on insulin resistance and endothelial function. Using a validated food frequency questionnaire, researchers monitored the diet of 420 healthy female nurses in Ishfahan, Iran. The glycemic indexes and plasma concentrations of insulin and adhesion molecules of all the subjects were constantly measured throughout the entire duration of the study.

Researchers found out that subjects who consumed large quantities of red meat had high serum concentrations of insulin, glucose, and adhesion molecules, such as E-selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1). These findings show that high consumption of red meat is associated with endothelial dysfunction, increased insulin resistance, and abnormal glucose metabolism.