More processed foods, more cardiovascular problems

Consumption of more super-processed foods corresponded to the increased risk and mortality of accidental cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Framingham offspring cohort.

Each additional daily supplement of these foods, a study of more than 3,000 people over the age of 18, gave worse results regardless of human energy intake, obesity, or other cardiovascular risk factors. I was struck.

• Hard CVD (coronary artery death, myocardial infarction) [MI], And stroke): Adjusted HR 1.07 (95% CI 1.03-1.12)

• Coronary Artery Death and MI: Adjusted HR 1.09 (95% CI 1.10-3.28)

• Overall CVD: Adjusted HR 1.05 (95% CI 1.02-1.08)

• CVD Mortality: Adjusted HR 1.09 (95% CI 1.02-1.16)

“In contrast to previous studies, no association was observed between superprocessed food consumption and total mortality,” said Niyati Parekh, MS, PhD, RD, New York University Global Health School in New York City. , And a colleague writes.Online Journal of American Universities of Cardiovascular..

Researchers found that ultra-processed foods provide 58% of the daily calories in the average US diet, bread, meat, and Soft drink Especially as a potential driving force for poor cardiovascular outcomes.

This study helps fill the “blank” of evidence that may inform cardiovascular guidelines Consumption of super-processed foodsRobert Ostfeld, MD, MSC, of ​​the Montefiore Health System in New York City, and Kathleen Allen, MS, RD of the Geisel School of Medicine in Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, wrote: Ancillary editorial..

They encouraged “timely action” to curb consumption of these foods.

“From a public health perspective, our study suggests the need for further efforts to implement population-wide strategies,” said Parek and colleagues. “These strategies may include financial measures such as taxation on sugared beverages and other super-processed foods, as well as recommendations on processing levels in national dietary guidelines.”

“Importantly, policies need to be designed to simultaneously increase the availability, accessibility, and affordability of minimally nutritious processed foods, especially in disadvantaged people,” the researchers said. Et al. Said.

They say that clinicians can also play their part by providing evidence-based nutritional counseling to patients with the goal of designing a healthy diet for individual patient-centered hearts. I added.

“Ultimately, the goal should be to make unhealthy choices difficult and healthy choices easy,” said Ostfeld and Allen.

Participants in the Framingham offspring cohort included in this study were 3,003 adults without CVD at baseline (mean age 53.5 years, 55.1% of whom were women). The follow-up included clinical tests and a food intake frequency questionnaire conducted every four years from 1991 to 2008.

Each person ate an average of 7.5 servings of super-processed foods per day at baseline.

The study was limited by a predominantly white population, with higher levels of education and income than the general US population, the researchers said. In addition, potential dietary measurement errors and unmeasured confounding could not be ruled out.

Nevertheless, the findings are generally consistent with the literature, including smaller ones. Nutri Net-Santé in France cohort.

Parekh et al. Stated that the biological mechanisms behind the association between hyperprocessed foods and CVD are likely to exceed higher energy intake and weight gain, given studies that controlled these factors. ..

Other plausible mechanisms are high intakes of food ingredients associated with heart disease (eg, trans fats, sodium, sugar), and additives that disrupt the integrity of the microflora and promote arterial calcification and oxidative stress. May be related to.

Last updated: March 22, 2021