JACC Adv
Ultraprocessed foods linked to higher cardiovascular risk in diverse U.S. cohort
Higher intake of ultraprocessed foods was associated with increased incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), involving 6,814 adults without baseline CVD. Each additional daily serving of ultraprocessed food was associated with a 5% relative increase in ASCVD events, and individuals in the highest intake quintile had a 67% higher risk vs. the lowest. An interaction by race was observed, with stronger associations among Black Americans than non-Black Americans. Findings were consistent across sex and socioeconomic strata.
Clinical takeaway: When counseling patients on ASCVD risk reduction, consider emphasizing reduced intake of ultraprocessed foods as part of dietary risk assessment, particularly for patients at higher baseline risk.
Source:
Haidar A, et al. (2026, January 6). JACC Adv. Association Between Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: MESA (Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41842871/
