Consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased risks of cardiovascular disease in US adults.

OBJECTIVE

Concerns have been raised about many deleterious consequences of ultra-processed food; however, data are sparse about risks of cardiovascular disease. This research explores whether United States adults who consume the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods have increased risks of cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

Large, random sample of 4787 participants from the most recently published National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2021 to 2023. Percentage of total daily energy intake derived from UPFs were categorized into quartiles based on the sample distribution using the widely accepted and validated NOVA classification system. Cardiovascular disease was defined as myocardial infarction or stroke. Logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted relative risks as effect measures and 95% confidence intervals to test for statistical significance. Covariates included age, gender, race, ethnicity, poverty-to-income ratio, and cigarette smoking.

RESULTS

The mean age was 55 years, 55.9% were women, and mean ultra-processed food intake was 26.1% of total energy. In adjusted analyses, individuals in the highest quartile compared with those in the lowest, had a statistically significant higher risk of cardiovascular disease (relative risk = 1.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.06-2.04; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Adults who consumed the highest amounts of ultra processed foods had a statistically significant 47% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Large scale randomized trials are needed, but in the meantime, health care providers should advise patients to decrease consumption of ultra-processed foods in addition to adopting other therapeutic lifestyle changes and adjunctive drug therapies of proven benefit.