Dietary share of ultra-processed foods and metabolic syndrome in the US adult population

Author(s)

Steele, Euridice Martinez ^{[1, 2]} ; Juul, Filippa ^[3] ; Neri, Daniela ^{[1, 2]} ; Rauber, Fernanda ^{[1, 2]} ; Monteiro, Carlos A. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Epidemiol Studies Hlth & Nutr, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Nutr, Sch Publ Hlth, Av Dr Arnaldo 715, BR-01246907 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] NYU, Coll Global Publ Hlth, New York, NY 10012 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; v. 125, p. 40-48, AUG 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

This study sought to examine the relationship between dietary share of ultra-processed foods and metabolic syndrome among US adults. We studied 6, 385 participants from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014, aged 20+ years, with blood tests under fasting conditions and at least one 24-hour dietary recall. Food items were classified according to the extent and purpose of industrial food processing. Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are formulations of many ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, that result from a sequence of industrial processes (hence ultra-processed). Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) was defined according to the 2009 Joint Scientific Statement as meeting three or more of the following criteria: (1) elevated waist circumference (2) elevated fasting plasma glucose (3) elevated blood pressure (4) elevated triglycerides (5) reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Poisson regression models with robust variance adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income, education, physical activity and smoking showed significant linear association between the dietary contribution of UPF and the prevalence of MetS (a 10% increase in contribution was associated with a 4% prevalence increase) (prevalence ratio -PR- = 1.04; 95% CI 1.02, 1.07). A dietary UPF contribution of >71% (5th population quintile) was associated with 28% higher prevalence of MetS compared to a contribution below 40% (1st population quintile) (PR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.09, 1.50). The association was stronger in young adults (PR between upper and lower quintiles = 1.94; 95% CI 1.39, 2.72) and decreased with age. These findings add to the growing evidence that UPF consumption is associated with diet-related non-communicable diseases. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/14900-9 - Consumption of ultra-processed foods, dietary nutrient profile diet and obesity in seven countries
• Grantee: Carlos Augusto Monteiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/14302-7 - Consumption of ultra-processed foods and indicators of diet quality in Australia
• Grantee: Fernanda Rauber
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/25853-4 - Consumption of ultra-processed foods, dietary profile and obesity among U.S. children and adolescents
• Grantee: Daniela Neri Gama de Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/17972-9 - Ultra-processed foods and 'protein leverage hypothesis': a study in seven countries
• Grantee: Eurídice Martínez Steele
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral