2024-03-01 22:59:13
Ultra-processed foods, easy to consume, are present everywhere in modern diets. Extensive research published this week in BMJ found an increased risk of various diseases among consumers of ultra-processed foods.
According to a new study published in The British Medical Journala greater consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with an increased risk of 32 adverse health effects, particularly cardiovascular, common mental disorders and mortality.
The researchers pooled data from 45 meta-analyses that associated ultra-processed foods with adverse health effects, totaling around 10 million participants! They classified the evidence they found into four categories: convincing, very suggestive, suggestive, weak or non-existent. They also rated the quality of evidence as high, moderate, low or very low.
« Compelling evidence showed that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with an approximately 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48-53% increased risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% increased risk of type 2 diabetesreports a press release. Very suggestive data also indicates a 21% increase in the risk of death from all causes, a 40-66% increase in the risk of death from heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and sleep disorders , as well as a 22% increase in the risk of depression. »
A convincing association to be confirmed in controlled trials
While the rigor and quality of the analyzes provided by the study are compelling, the researchers acknowledge that the research cannot establish causality, requiring additional research, including randomized controlled trials.
Ultra-processed foods, as defined by the Nova food classification system, encompass a wide range of ready-to-eat products: baked goods, soft drinks, sugary cereals, etc. These quality nutrient-poor products undergo multiple industrial processes and often contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors and other additives.
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