Key TakeawaysNew data suggests that eating a lot of sulfur-containing amino acids is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, early death due to heart disease, and all-cause mortality in both men and women.Many people eat more meat than what is recommended, which might be contributing to their heart disease risk.Instead of avoiding meat, eggs, and other sulfur amino acid-containing foods, people should try to enjoy them in the recommended quantities and include other protein sources in their diets as well.

Key Takeaways

New data suggests that eating a lot of sulfur-containing amino acids is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, early death due to heart disease, and all-cause mortality in both men and women.Many people eat more meat than what is recommended, which might be contributing to their heart disease risk.Instead of avoiding meat, eggs, and other sulfur amino acid-containing foods, people should try to enjoy them in the recommended quantities and include other protein sources in their diets as well.

We needamino acidsto provide our bodies with the building blocks to make proteins, enzymes, and other important compounds.

However, new data has shown that eating sulfur-containing amino acids—mostly found in meat and milk—may increase our cardiovascular disease.

The findings of the new study were presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle, and Cardiometabolic Health Conference.

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What Are Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids?

Amino acids are found in protein-rich foods. The body needs them for building muscle, producing enzymes, and making or fixing DNA. Certain amino acids are also key players in protein structure and protein-folding pathways.

Four amino acids—methionine,cysteine, homocysteine, and taurine—have a chemical element calledsulfurin them.

Our bodies need these amino acids for different reasons. For example,methioninehelps prevent disorders of thehair, skin, and nails. It may also help protectthe liverfrom the toxic effects of too much acetaminophen.

Potential Heart Health Risks

Consuming sulfur-containing amino acids may have some health risks.

For example, homocysteine has been linked to heart disease. High levels of homocysteine are also associated with an increasedrisk for stroke.

That said, there have not been many studies to look at whether regularly eating foods with sulfur-containing amino acids plays a direct role in heart disease risk and mortality.

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The Study

The researchers assessed the participants’ dietary intake of sulfur-containing amino acids. The participants’ health outcomes were tracked over about 32 years to reveal the following findings:

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Limitations to Keep In Mind

The prospective study included a lot of people who were followed over many years, which were strengths of the research. However, it also had some important limitations.

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Should You Eat Less Meat?

Most sulfur-containing amino acids are animal products. If you’re a meat-eater and you’re worried about the possible health effects of these amino acids, know that you don’t necessarily have to go meat-free.

Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, a New York-based cardiovascular registered dietitian, told Verywell that she often sees people get hyper-focused on one macronutrient or another when it comes to reducing their cardiovascular disease risk.

According to Routhenstein, what’s really needed is “macronutrient balance.” To that end, she recommends “choosing the appropriate quantity and the diversity of proteins, along with adding appropriate quantities of complex carbohydrates andheart-healthy fatsto ensure nutrient adequacy and to protect your heart health.”

If you eat meat, you don’t necessarily have to stop. Instead, Routhenstein recommends adding other heart-healthy proteins, like chickpeas, lentils, tofu, and edamame, to your diet.

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A Well-Balanced Diet

Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPT, a California-based registered dietitian and the owner ofShawSimpleSwaps.com, told Verywell that “eating a well-balanced diet abundant in plant-based foods is important for lifelong health.”

According to Shaw, “we know well from other research that restriction of specific foods that are a part of many cultures, like meat, isn’t going to be realistic long-term.”

Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPTEating a well-balanced diet abundant in plant-based foods is important for lifelong health.

Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPT

Eating a well-balanced diet abundant in plant-based foods is important for lifelong health.

What’s more, meat can have a place in a diet that’s a blend of nutritious foods. For example, Shaw pointed out that beef offers “essential nutrients people need throughout their life stages.”

About three-quarters of Americans meet or exceed the recommendation for meats, poultry, and eggs. As such, they might be getting more sulfur-containing amino acids than is recommended.

Any food can be linked to negative health outcomes if you eat too much of it and don’t balance it out with the other nutrition that your body needs.

If you want to keep meat and other animal products in your diet, stick to the recommended servings: that’s no more than four ounces of meat and three dairy servings a day.

What This Means For YouIf you are a meat or dairy eater, sticking to recommended servings of these foods and including more plant-based protein in your diet may help you limit your sulfur-containing amino acid intake and support your heart health.

What This Means For You

If you are a meat or dairy eater, sticking to recommended servings of these foods and including more plant-based protein in your diet may help you limit your sulfur-containing amino acid intake and support your heart health.

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5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Cumulative consumption of sulfur amino acids and risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality; analysis of two prospective cohort studies.DrugBank.Methionine.Vinknes KJ, Refsum H, Turner C, et al.Plasma sulfur amino acids and risk of cerebrovascular diseases: a nested case-control study in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort.Stroke. 2021;52(1):172-180. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029177Subar AF, Freedman LS, Tooze JA, et al.Addressing current criticism regarding the value of self-report dietary data.J Nutr. 2015;145(12):2639-45. doi:10.3945/jn.115.219634U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Cumulative consumption of sulfur amino acids and risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality; analysis of two prospective cohort studies.DrugBank.Methionine.Vinknes KJ, Refsum H, Turner C, et al.Plasma sulfur amino acids and risk of cerebrovascular diseases: a nested case-control study in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort.Stroke. 2021;52(1):172-180. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029177Subar AF, Freedman LS, Tooze JA, et al.Addressing current criticism regarding the value of self-report dietary data.J Nutr. 2015;145(12):2639-45. doi:10.3945/jn.115.219634U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Heart Association.Cumulative consumption of sulfur amino acids and risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality; analysis of two prospective cohort studies.DrugBank.Methionine.Vinknes KJ, Refsum H, Turner C, et al.Plasma sulfur amino acids and risk of cerebrovascular diseases: a nested case-control study in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort.Stroke. 2021;52(1):172-180. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029177Subar AF, Freedman LS, Tooze JA, et al.Addressing current criticism regarding the value of self-report dietary data.J Nutr. 2015;145(12):2639-45. doi:10.3945/jn.115.219634U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

American Heart Association.Cumulative consumption of sulfur amino acids and risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality; analysis of two prospective cohort studies.

DrugBank.Methionine.

Vinknes KJ, Refsum H, Turner C, et al.Plasma sulfur amino acids and risk of cerebrovascular diseases: a nested case-control study in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort.Stroke. 2021;52(1):172-180. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029177

Subar AF, Freedman LS, Tooze JA, et al.Addressing current criticism regarding the value of self-report dietary data.J Nutr. 2015;145(12):2639-45. doi:10.3945/jn.115.219634

U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

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