A line could be drawn between how much ultraprocessed food a person eats and their risk of major chronic diseases, according to a meta-analysis.
Analysis Overview
Covering 51 prospective cohort studies and over 8.8 million participants, there were clear dose-dependent links between ultraprocessed food consumption and bad health outcomes. Each 100 g of these foods eaten daily was associated with significantly higher risks of:
- Cardiovascular events (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.22)
- Cancer (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06)
- All-cause mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.05)
- Metabolic syndrome (MetS)/diabetes (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04)
That 100 g can represent a large store-bought cookie, about four servings of potato chips, or roughly two hot dogs.
Conclusion of the Study
Consuming ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) was associated with higher risks of multiple chronic diseases and all-cause mortality with low or moderate evidence. Reducing dietary intake of UPFs may therefore be relevant for chronic disease prevention, concluded the group led by Xiao Liu, MD, PhD, of Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.
Liu’s group urged clinical action, especially in primary care. They suggested that primary care practitioners may advise gradual reduction of UPFs intake towards approximately 10%-20% of total daily energy intake, considering which UPF subtypes are most strongly associated with adverse outcomes.
Understanding Ultraprocessed Foods
There is no formal definition of ultraprocessed food, but it is commonly accepted to indicate products that undergo extensive industrial processing and contain multiple additives. These foods tend to have lower nutritional value and high energy, which delays the feeling of fullness and may increase eating rate and overall food intake. By one estimate, ultraprocessed foods account for more than half the calories consumed in the U.S. diet.
While there are numerous studies indicating that diets high in ultraprocessed foods are associated with health harms, the notion that these foods directly cause chronic illness remains unproven.
Limitations Identified
The lack of rigorous supporting randomized trials was emphasized by statistician Adam Jacobs, PhD, MSc, highlighting that people who consume low amounts of UPF are generally more affluent, leading to possible confounding variables connected to lifestyle and poverty that may influence the observed health outcomes.
Measuring food intake accurately is notoriously challenging, as dietary self-reporting may lead to exposure misclassification and measurement error.
The meta-analysis suggested that future studies should adopt harmonized and subtype-specific UPF exposure metrics, improve dietary assessment methods, and clarify clinically meaningful intake thresholds across diverse populations.
Disclaimer
Always consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle, especially regarding nutritional choices and health risks.
Fuente: https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/dietnutrition/123118
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