A recent review published in Cardiology in Review highlights that consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to findings released on Mar. 26. The review draws on evidence from large cohort studies and meta-analyses, showing a dose-response relationship between these foods and heart-related illnesses.
The topic is important because cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of health problems worldwide, reducing quality of life and increasing healthcare costs. Understanding how diet influences these risks can help individuals make better choices for their heart health.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially produced products high in additives such as sugar, fat, salt, preservatives, emulsifiers, and synthetic colorants. The review points out that high intake of UPFs is associated with increased risks of stroke and cardiovascular mortality. Proposed mechanisms include disruption of the gut microbiome and chronic inflammation driven by NF-κB activation—an inflammatory pathway that promotes cytokine release and endothelial dysfunction.
Large prospective studies support these concerns. For example, data from France’s NutriNet-Santé cohort found a 12% higher risk of cardiovascular events for every 10% increase in energy intake from UPFs among over 105,000 participants. Similar results were seen in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort in the United States: each additional daily serving was linked to higher risks for both coronary heart disease and CVD-related mortality regardless of overall diet quality.
Meta-analyses reinforce this association; one systematic review covering more than one million people reported a 17% greater risk for those with high UPF consumption compared to lower intakes. Notably, even after adjusting for nutrient profiles like fats or sugars alone, these associations remained significant—suggesting non-nutritional factors also play a role.
The authors conclude that shifting toward minimally processed diets could be an effective strategy to reduce long-term cardiovascular risks.
