Diabetes Care reports consuming red meat and other foods high in "heme" iron, such as chicken liver, clams and oysters, appears to increase the risk of heart disease in diabetics.

Researchers followed 6,161 women with type 2 diabetes. During follow-up visits, from 1980 through 2000, the team documented 550 new cases of heart disease. After accounting for age and body weight, high intake of both heme iron and red meat appeared to increase the risk of heart disease. Specifically, women who consumed the highest amount of heme iron were 50% more likely to develop heart disease than those with the lowest intake. The risks were greatest in women who were postmenopausal.

The researchers point out that because of the study's design, the findings can't prove that high heme iron intake "causes" heart disease, only that it is "associated" with the disease. The results of this study support the suggestion that cutting back on consumption of heme iron-rich foods might be prudent for diabetics. Those of you in the market for a heart healthy diet - consider curtailing the chicken livers and aphrodisiacs of the sea.