Highest Ultraprocessed Food Intake Linked to Higher Cardiovascular Disease Risk
A study in the American Journal of Medicine found that U.S. adults with the highest ultraprocessed food intake had higher cardiovascular disease risk. Mean ultraprocessed food intake was 26.1% of total energy.
Adults consuming the highest amounts of ultraprocessed foods had an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online January 23 in the American Journal of Medicine. Using data from the most recently published National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2021 to 2023, researchers examined whether U.S. adults who consume higher amounts of ultraprocessed foods have increased risks for cardiovascular disease.
The percentage of total daily energy intake derived from ultraprocessed foods was categorized into quartiles, and the crude and adjusted relative risks were examined. The researchers found that the mean ultraprocessed food intake was 26.1% of total energy.
Individuals in the highest versus the lowest quartile had a significantly higher risk for cardiovascular disease, defined as myocardial infarction or stroke, in adjusted analyses, with a relative risk of 1.47.
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical, medical device, and publishing industries.