Men who regularly eat even moderate amounts of processed red meat, such as ham and hot dogs, may have a higher risk of developing heart failure, a new study has found.

Processed meats are preserved by salting, smoking, curing or adding preservatives. Examples include ham, sausages, bacon, pudding, hot dogs and salami.

Swedish researchers undertook the first study to assess the effects of processed red meat separately from unprocessed red meat in men. They looked at over 37,000 men aged between 45 and 79, who had no history of heart failure, heart disease or cancer.

The men were monitored from 1998 until 2010. During that time, almost 2,900 were diagnosed with heart failure and 266 died as a result.

The study found that those who consumed the most processed red meat - 75g or more per day - had a 28% increased risk of developing heart failure compared to men who consumed the least amount - 25g or less per day.

Those who consumed the most were also twice as likely to die from heart failure compared to those who consumed the least amount.

However, the study also found a risk among men who consumed moderate amounts of processed red meats. For every 50g per day they consumed, their risk of heart failure increased by 8% and their risk of death from heart failure rose by 38%.

Fifty grams is equivalent to just one or two slices of ham.

The risk of developing, or dying from, heart failure did not increase among men who consumed unprocessed red meat, such as beef and pork.

"Processed red meat commonly contains sodium, nitrates, phosphates and other food additives, and smoked and grilled meats also contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which may contribute to the increased heart failure risk. Unprocessed meat is free from food additives and usually has a lower amount of sodium," noted the researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.

They said that if people want to reduce their risk of heart failure and heart disease, they should avoid processed red meat and limit their consumption of unprocessed red meat to no more than two servings per week.

"Instead, eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grain products, nuts and increase your servings of fish," they suggested.
They believe that current similar studies being carried out on women will yield similar results.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Circulation: Heart Failure.

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