Study Finds Animal Protein Safe, May Lower Cancer Risk

A new study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism suggests that eating animal protein is not linked to premature death and could even reduce cancer-related mortality. Researchers analyzed dietary patterns of nearly 16,000 U.S. adults aged 19 and older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

The findings revealed no increased risk of death from total, animal, or plant protein consumption. In fact, individuals with higher animal protein intake showed a modest but significant decrease in cancer mortality. Advanced statistical methods, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) approach and multivariate Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) modeling, were used to account for variations in daily intake and improve accuracy.

Although observational studies cannot confirm cause and effect, the results align with clinical evidence showing that both animal and plant proteins support health, making them valuable components of a balanced diet.

25-08-2025