A scientific study conducted in the United States found that excessive consumption of red meat leads to thickening of the abdominal aorta walls, the largest artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. According to the study published in the medical journal Jama Cardiology, elevated levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a secondary compound produced by stomach bacteria during the digestion of red meat and animal products, are associated with increased risk of abdominal aortic wall thickening. Researcher Scott Cameron from Cleveland Clinic stated that addressing high blood levels of TMAO may help treat this condition without surgery. The study examined data from 237 Europeans and 658 individuals from the Americas, both healthy and patients with aortic wall thickening, showing that high TMAO levels triple the risk. Stanley Hazen, lead researcher, emphasized that healthy dietary habits reducing animal product intake could prevent or treat this cardiovascular condition.

Doctors advise patients with abdominal aortic wall thickening to limit red meat consumption, especially considering other risk factors like smoking and aging.