Minimally processed versus processed and ultra-processed food in individuals at cardiometabolic risk

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the association between food consumption classified by the degree of processing and cardiometabolic risk factors in a population at risk of cardiovascular disease.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study conducted with 325 adults and elderlies who present a cardiovascular risk factor. The food consumption was evaluated by a 24 h dietary recall, and it was classified according to the NOVA classification.FindingsIndividuals who presented a higher consumption of processed and ultra-processed food had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, waist/hip ratio (PR = 1.005; p-value = 0.049), waist circumference (PR = 1.003; p-value = 0.02) and high total cholesterol (PR = 1.008; p-value = 0.047), while ultra-processed had a higher prevalence of excess weight (PR = 1.004; p-value = 0.04), and abdominal obesity, waist/hip ratio (PR = 1.005; p-value = 0.04), waist circumference (PR = 1.004; p-value = 0.004) and waist/height ratio (PR = 1.003; p-value = 0.03).Practical implicationsAn association was found between the degree of food processing and cardiometabolic risk factors, even in a population that already has a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the importance of personalized nutrition orientation that considers the profile of the target population as well as types of meals.Originality/valueFood processing in itself can influence cardiometabolic risk and, as far as is known, no study has evaluated food processing in individuals who already have some type of cardiovascular risk. Also, consumption was assessed by the degree of processing between meals.

Ultra-processed food consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance: A systematic review

“…(2022, USA) 50 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) n = 6,545 >20 y mean 49.3 y (0.34 y SE) (53.5%) 24-hour dietary recall NOVA classification (% of total food weight) Age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational level, family income to poverty ratio, marital status, smoking status, BMI, serum ALT, fasting triglycerides, total cholesterol, and uric acid Higher UPF consumption (4 th quartile of >68.3% vs. 1 st quartile of <41.6%) was associated with higher odds for IR (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.12–2.07), and a 10% increment in UPF consumption was associated with 11% higher odds for IR (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05–1.18; p for trend <0.002). IR was defined as the upper quartile (>Q4) of the study sample’s HOMA levels (>4.37) Silva Meneguelli T. (2022, Brazil) 62 The Cardiovascular Health Care Program of the University Federal of Vicosa (PROCARDIO-UFV) n = 325 ≥20 y (58.5%) 24-hour dietary recall NOVA classification (% of total kCal) Gender, age, schooling, marital status, smoking status, and physical activity No association was found between UPF and IR (PR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99-1.02). IR was defined as the upper quartile (>Q4) of the study sample’s TyG index (exact threshold not specified) Hosseininasab D. (2022, Iran) 61 The community health center of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) n = 391 18-48 y 36.7±9.1 y (100%) Semi-quantitative 147-items FFQ NOVA classification (g/day) Model 1.…”

“… 61 Similarly, no association was found in the third study conducted among 325 Brazilian adults, which evaluated IR using the triglyceride-glucose index. 62 …”

“…(2016, Spain) 65 The Seguimiento University of Navarra (SUN-project) (8.9 y) n = 8,451 37.6±11.0 y (65%) Self-administered semi-quantitative 136-items FFQ NOVA classification (servings/day) Participants in the highest quartile vs. the lowest (6.1 vs. 1.5 servings/day of UPF) had a higher risk of developing overweight or obesity (HR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.10-1.45; p for trend = 0.001). A higher incidence of overweight and obesity with increasing baseline quartiles of UPF Cross-sectional Silva Meneguelli T. (2022, Brazil) 62 The cardiovascular health care program of the Federal University of Vicosa (PROCARDIO-UFV) n = 325 ≥20 y (58.5%) 24-hour dietary recall NOVA classification (% of total kCal) Positive associations were found between UPF consumption and excessive body weight (adults with BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 and elderlies with BMI ≥ 28kg/m2) (PR = 1.004, 95% CI 1.00-1.01), and abdominal obesity (WC ≥90 for men and ≥80 for women) (PR = 1.004, 95% CI 1.00-1.01). UPF consumption was not associated with percent body fat Martinez-Perez C. (2021, Spain) 105 The PREDIMED-Plus trial n = 5,636 65.1±4.9 y (48.5%) Semi-quantitative 143-items FFQ NOVA, IARC, IFIC, and UNC classification (g/day) UPF consumption in all the classification systems was associated with weight and WC, NOVA classification showed the highest value.…”

“…All three studies were cross-sectional, and two of them did not focus on IR as the primary outcome. 61 , 62 …”