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Mystery of the meat-eaters' molecule

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Our inability to produce a chemical present in every other primate may be linked to a series of chronic diseases. Roger Highfield explains more

What does it mean to be human? For most people, it all comes down to that extraordinary object between our ears, and how it blesses us with language, laughter and logic. But not for Ajit Varki, a doctor-cum-scientist who works in California.

For him, being human is also about a single chemical that separates us from our closest relatives, and which could be linked to many of our most debilitating illnesses.

The story began in 1984, when Prof Varki was working at the University of California, San Diego. When treating a woman with bone-marrow failure, he injected her with horse serum. The treatment carried the risk of a side effect called "serum sickness", in which the patient's immune system launches an attack on a molecule present in the serum called Neu5Gc.

Sure enough, her skin erupted with an itchy red rash. Investigating further, Prof Varki found that Neu5Gc was foreign to humans, even though we carry a very similar version of the same molecule - which may be one reason why animal-to-human organ and tissue transplants do not work well.

But in recent years, he has come to believe that the implications of this molecular difference are much wider. He has built up a range of evidence that potentially links Neu5Gc, a so-called sialic acid, to chronic disease.

This is because the animal version is absorbed by humans as a result of eating red meat and milk products, and there is evidence that the body views it as an invader.

Eating these foods could trigger inflammation and, over the long term, heart disease, certain cancers and auto-immune illnesses. Prof Varki stresses, however, that "we have not proven any link to disease, just suggested that it is something to explore".
goldenways

21 responses // Mystery of the meat-eaters' molecule

  • WOW! That is SO interesting.

    I haven't eaten meat for 8 yrs now and I feel great.

    Think that may be the reason I haven't gotten sick for over 3 yrs either... When I DID get sick last, it was (I think) from a friend of mine that had the flu, who, low and behold, eats lots of RED MEAT.
    onechance
    1 response to this
  • I love red meat, and I eat lots of it, yet I have an excellent immune system and rarely get sick. I'd be more worried about eating nothing but vegetables and turning into a human toothpick...
    Dmitri_Molotov
    7 responses to this
  • There will always be people who eat meat. I'm one of them. Do what you want, as long as it doesn't affect what I eat.
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • Dmitri_Molotov:

    I invite you to really THINK about your attitude.

    Possibly, in the future, you can make COMPASSION #6 on your 1-5 profile list.

    Maybe you'll MAKE time for #6 when you get to your Junior or Serior year. I hope it comes sooner.

    PEACE
    onechance
  • If it hasn't evolved defensive measures to keep it from being eaten, then it should be eaten. Who knows, maybe a million years in the future cows will be the deadliest animals in the universe.
    Dmitri_Molotov
    1 response to this
  • Cannibalism is against human programming, eating animals is not.
    Dmitri_Molotov
    3 responses to this
  • MODERATION, OK?
    onechance
    1 response to this
  • My comments: I am 57 yrs. old, was a weightlifter, powerlifter, and health fanatic since 9 yrs. old.

    Three years ago I took an assignment to work in Nigeria. Since then, I almost partake of no dairy products or red meat. It is amazing the response of my body. Joint pains in particular have disappeared, as well as muscular pains that I had associated with "old age". When in the U.S. I eat a steak almost every night, but no milk or ice cream. For me it has made a difference! I still crave red meat, milk, and ice cream, but I can now see a difference in my body's response.
    MoonLoon

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