Grilled Meat and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is There A Connection?

Love of grilled meat may increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition in which the immune system erroneously targets the cells lining the joints. It is due to the procedure's release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These pollutants arise during the combustion of coal, oil, gas, and wood, as well as during the flame grilling of meat and other meals, according to the study, which was published in the journal BMJ Open (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2016

Go to source). Tobacco smoking also produces PAHs.

Vulnerability of Lower Socioeconomic Status and Urban Dwellers to PAH Exposure

"While PAH levels tend to be higher in adults who smoke, other sources of PAH exposure include indoor environments, motor vehicle exhaust, natural gas, smoke from wood or coal burning fires, fumes from asphalt roads, and consuming grilled or charred foods," researchers from the University of Maryland wrote in the paper. "This is pertinent as households of lower socioeconomic status generally experience poorer indoor air quality and may reside in urban areas next to major roadways or in high traffic areas." As a result, they believe these folks are especially vulnerable.

Impact of PAHs, PHTHTEs, and VOCs Toxicants in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The researchers investigated several toxicants, including PAHs, PHTHTEs (chemicals used in the production of plastics and consumer goods), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) originating from paints, cleaning agents, and pesticides.

They comprised approximately 22,000 adults, with 1,418 having rheumatoid arthritis and the remainder 20,569 not. The researchers collected blood and urine samples to determine the overall amount of PAH, PHTHTEs, and VOCs in the body.

They discovered that 7,090 participants had PAH, 7,024 had PHTHTEs, and 7,129 had VOCs in their systems.

"To our knowledge," they stated, "this is the first study to demonstrate that PAH not only underpins the majority of the relationship between smoking and (rheumatoid arthritis) but also independently contributes to (it). This is important as PAH are ubiquitous in the environment, derived from various sources, and are mechanistically linked by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor to the underlying pathophysiology of (rheumatoid arthritis)."

Reference:

1. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2016 - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37160384/)

Source-Medindia