Analysis of 4,787 US adults from the 2021-2023 NHANES data reveals that those consuming the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods face a 47% elevated risk of cardiovascular events compared to lowest consumers. The study used the NOVA classification system to categorize participants by UPF intake quartiles, with mean consumption at 26.1% of total daily energy intake.
This finding strengthens the growing body of evidence linking ultra-processed foods to serious health outcomes beyond obesity and diabetes. While previous research has established connections to metabolic dysfunction, this large-scale analysis provides robust evidence for cardiovascular harm specifically. The mechanism likely involves chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted metabolic pathways triggered by food additives, preservatives, and highly refined ingredients characteristic of UPFs. For health-conscious adults, this underscores the importance of minimizing packaged snacks, sugary beverages, processed meats, and convenience foods in favor of whole food alternatives. The study's strength lies in its recent data and adjustment for key confounders, though the observational design cannot establish definitive causation. Given that UPFs comprise roughly 60% of the average American diet, even modest reductions could yield meaningful cardiovascular protection.