The Association between Total Protein, Animal Protein, and Animal Protein Sources with Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.

Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). 2023;14(4):752-761

Plain language summary

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), like Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are characterised by recurrent inflammation of the intestinal tract. There has been a global rise in these conditions, which presents a significant economic burden and impacts the quality of life of the individual. Factors such as dysregulated immune response, genetic predisposition, gut microbiome, and environmental elements are believed to influence IBD development, with growing attention on the role of diets. Despite extensive research, the impact of dietary protein on IBD remains inconclusive. To address this gap a dose-dependent meta-analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between total protein, animal protein, and their sources with recurrent inflammation in IBD. The study included 11 prospective cohort studies spanning from 2010 to 2022, comprising 8,067 cases and 4,302,554 participants. The analysis showed no significant association between most dietary protein sources and IBD incidences. However, an increase in total meat intake was correlated with a higher risk of IBD, while protein consumption from dairy products appeared to be protective against IBD development, with some ethnic variations noted. The authors also discussed potential mechanisms, including the impact on the microbiome and the presence of compounds with adverse health effects. They emphasised the need for more intervention trials to validate these findings and shed further light on the relationship between dietary protein and IBD.

Expert Review


Conflicts of interest: None

Take Home Message:
  • According to the researchers, the effect of the high consumption of meat in increasing the risk of IBD is not related to the type of protein contained in it but could be due to cooking meat at high temperatures
  • Other studies have reported that the consumption of animal proteins, especially processed and red meat, increases the risk of IBD
  • Other studies related to dairy intake have been contradictory. There is also evidence reported of a positive effect from dairy exclusion in IBD patients.
  • Further research is required to corroborate the findings of this systematic review.

Evidence Category:
  • X A: Meta-analyses, position-stands, randomized-controlled trials (RCTs)
  • B: Systematic reviews including RCTs of limited number
  • C: Non-randomized trials, observational studies, narrative reviews
  • D: Case-reports, evidence-based clinical findings
  • E: Opinion piece, other

Summary Review:
Introduction

The authors conducted a dose-dependent meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies which examined the relation between total protein, animal protein, and animal protein sources with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in adults because the prevalence and incidence of IBD have exceeded globally.

Methods

Cochrane methodology was undertaken for the systematic review. Data from 11 prospective cohort studies with 8067 cases and 4,302,554 participants was extracted by 2 independent investigators. Evaluation of the quality and possible biases of included studies was performed. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals were chosen as the effect estimate. Various subgroup analyses were undertaken as well as metaregression analyses.

Results

  • Seven cohort studies (7232 cases, 1,097,040 participants) were included in the analysis of dairy intake. Higher intakes of dairy was associated with a lower risk of IBD (RR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.90; n = 7)
  • Consumption of protein from dairy products was found to be protective against IBD risk (RR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.88)
  • Three prospective cohort studies with 1214 cases of IBD among a total of 535,738 subjects were included in the total meat analyses. Higher dietary total meat intake was not associated with the risk of IBD (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.70; n = 4)
  • A positive linear association was found between total meat intake and risk of IBD. 100 g/d increment in dietary total meat consumption was associated with a 38% greater risk of IBD (RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.68)
  • Three prospective cohorts, among 492,497 participants and 4025 cases were included in the analysis of egg consumption. No association was found between egg consumption and IBD risk (RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.04; n = 4).

Conclusion

The findings indicated no notable correlation between the intake of the majority of dietary protein sources and the incidence of IBD. IBD risk only escalated with higher total meat consumption, while the intake of protein from dairy products emerged as a protective factor against the risk of IBD.

Clinical practice applications:
  • Dairy product consumption may be protective against IBD. However the studies included with statistically significant results did not control for alcohol intake and other confounding factors. The type of dairy product consumed, as well as a personalised approach, should be considered
  • This study did not find any association between red or processed meat consumption and risk of IBD. However the subgroup analysis did find a significant association between red meat intake and IBD risk. This difference in results may be caused by differences in cooking methods, genetic factors, amount of meat consumption, confounding factors, and other environmental factors
  • Total meat intake, as well as type of meat intake, and how meat is cooked, should be reviewed in clients with IBD, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Considerations for future research:
  • Intervention studies would need to be conducted to corroborate the findings of this systematic review
  • Future research should fully consider cofounding factors, such as alcohol intake and body mass index (BMI)
  • Future studies should further consider types of protein as well as dose and cooking implications.

Abstract

We aimed to conduct this dose-dependent meta-analysis to examine the relation between total protein, animal protein, and its sources with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We searched databases, comprising PubMed/Medline, Web of Science (ISI), Embase, and Google Scholar, for the published studies up to 28 March 2023. Prospective cohort study designs that investigated associations between dietary intake of various animal protein sources and with risk of IBD in the general population were identified. Eleven prospective cohort studies with 4,302,554 participants and 8067 cases were considered eligible. Findings indicated that higher intake of dairy was significantly associated with a lower risk of IBD (relative risk [RR]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72, 0.90), Crohn disease (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.86), and ulcerative colitis (RR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.94). There was no association between different sources of animal protein and the risk of IBD. The dose-response analysis suggested that each 100 g/d increment in dietary total meat consumption was associated with a 38% greater risk of IBD. Moreover, a positive linear association was found between total meat intake and risk of IBD (Pnonlinearity = 0.522, Pdose-response = 0.005). Overall, among the dietary sources of protein, the risk of IBD increased only with increasing total meat intake, and the consumption of protein from dairy products was found to be a protective factor against the IBD risk. This trial was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023397719.

Lifestyle medicine

Patient Centred Factors : Triggers/Dietary Protein
Environmental Inputs : Diet ; Nutrients
Personal Lifestyle Factors : Nutrition
Functional Laboratory Testing : Not applicable
Bioactive Substances : Dietary Protein

Methodological quality

Jadad score : Not applicable
Allocation concealment : Not applicable

Metadata