Ultra-Processed Foods and Excess Heart Age Among U.S. Adults

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Am J Prev Med
• Personal Author:
  Yang, Quanhe ; Zhang, Zefeng ; Steele, Euridice Martinez ; Moore, Latetia V. ; Jackson, Sandra L.
• Description:
  Introduction:
  
  A high percentage of total calories from ultra-processed foods has been associated with several cardiovascular disease risk factors. No study has examined the association between ultra-processed foods and heart age. This study examines the association between ultra-processed foods and excess heart age (difference between estimated heart age and chronological age) among U.S. adults.
  
  Methods:
  
  The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2016) data for participants aged 30–74 years without cardiovascular disease or stroke (n=12,640) was used. Ultra-processed food was assigned based on NOVA classification of food processing, with ultra-processed food being the highest level. This study estimated the usual percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods and used sex-specific Framingham heart age algorithms to calculate heart age. The multivariable linear or logistic regression was used to examine the association between ultra-processed foods and excess heart age or likelihood of excess heart age being ≥10 years. Data analyses were conducted in 2020.
  
  Results:
  
  The median usual percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods was 54.5% (IQR=45.8%–63.1%). Adjusted excess heart age increased from 7.0 years (95% CI=6.4, 7.6) in the lowest quintile (Q1) to 9.9 years (95% CI=9.2, 10.5) in the highest quintile (Q5) (p<0.001). Compared with Q1, AORs for excess heart age of ≥10 years were 1.16 (95% CI=1.08, 1.25) in Q2, 1.29 (95% CI=1.14, 1.46) in Q3, 1.43 (95% CI=1.20, 1.71) in Q4, and 1.66 (95% CI=1.29, 2.14) in Q5 (p<0.001). The pattern of association was largely consistent across subgroups.
  
  Conclusions:
  
  U.S. adults consumed more than half of total daily calories from ultra-processed foods. A higher percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods was associated with higher excess heart age and likelihood of excess heart age of ≥10 years.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Child Cross-Sectional Studies Diet Energy Intake Fast Foods Female Food Handling Humans Male Nutrition Surveys

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• Source:
  Am J Prev Med. 59(5):e197-e206
• Pubmed ID:
  33012621
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC10924299
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  59
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:3b5243778a6f96dac6abd670fc7937304e28bd8c80e2e67fe066282e1361b519
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/151647/cdc_151647_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 496.05 KB ]