Dietary protein and risk of ischemic heart disease in middle-aged men

Abstract

Background Prospective studies in US women have suggested an inverse relation between dietary protein and risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) However, no large scale prospective studies have been conducted in US menObjective The objective was to examine the association between dietary protein and risk of IHD in a prospective study of US menDesign Intakes of protein and other nutrients were assessed by using a validated food frequency questionnaire at 4 time points during follow up of 43 960 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow Up Study Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate multivariable adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIsResults During 18 y of follow-up we documented 2959 incident cases of IHD The RR of IHD was 1 08 (95% CI 0 95, 1 23 P for trend = 0 30) comparing the top with the bottom quintile of percentage of energy from total protein RRs for animal and vegetable protein were 1 11 (95% CI 097, 1 28 P for trend = 0 18) and 093 (95% CI 0 78 1 12 P for trend = 0 49) respectively When the population was restricted to healthy men (those free of hypertension hypercholesterolemia and diabetes at baseline) the RR of IHD was 1 21(95% CI 1 01 1 44 P for trend = 0 02) for total protein 1 25 (95% CI 1 04 1 51 P for lend = 0 02) for animal protein, and 093 (95% CI 072 119 P for trend = 0 65) for vegetable proteinConclusions We observed no association between dietary protein and risk of total IHD in this group of men aged 40-75 y However higher intake of animal protein may be associated with an increased risk of IHD in healthy men Am J Clin Nutr 2010 92 1265-72