P8.94 RED MEAT CONSUMPTION IN THE UK HAS DECLINED OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS WITH SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR THE UK ADULT POPULATION POTENTIALLY LEADING TO MORE WOMEN AND MEN DEVELOPING CHRONIC TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM

Nina Frigé and D. Hugh Rushton

University of Surrey, UK & School of Pharmacy, University of Portsmouth, UK

Objectives: Has the reduction in red meat consumption in the UK resulted in adverse changes in health?

Methods: Apparently healthy males (n=325) in whom only male pattern hair loss (MPHL) was their presenting complaint were evaluated for a variety of blood variables including full blood count, ESR, ferritin, vitamin B₁₂, zinc, testosterone, and thyroid function. In addition, a food questionnaire covering their eating habits over the past 10 years was also obtained. Blood variables were compared with historical data (n=101) obtained on a similar population 10 years earlier. Cohort data will also be presented.

Results: Data analysis was undertaken after excluding subjects with a raised ESR (>10mm/hr) or those with an abnormal liver function. All subjects were euthyroid and had normal testosterone levels. There was no significant difference between the mean ages of the study populations. Significantly higher mean values were found in men from 1990 compared with those 10 years later for haemoglobin (P<0.01). Significantly lower mean values were found for serum ferritin (P<0.0001) and vitamin B₁₂ (P<0.03). Analysis of the food questionnaire data found a significant (P<0.05) reduction in red meat consumption in 2000 compared with 1990.

Conclusions: The data shows that dietary influences have had a negative impact on the physiology of adult UK males. We have shown that UK men were unable to compensate for the reduction in nutrients present in red meat by relying on other food sources. The idea of being able to substitute one dietary source of nutrients with another needs to be reviewed. Given the fact that many women buy, cook and influence the dietary habits of men, we suspect the reduction in red meat consumption that is having an adverse affect on male nutrition will have a greater impact in women. Women are prone to persistent excessive hair shedding (chronic telogen effluvium) due to low serum ferritin concentrations and we suspect this position is exacerbated by the reduction in red meat consumption. These findings have major implications for the health of menstruating women