Resumen de Contribution of minimally processed and ultra-processed foods to the cardiometabolic risk of Brazilian young adults: a cross-sectional study

Gleiciane de Jesus Santana, Natanael de Jesus Silva, Jamille Oliveira Costa, Cecilia María Passos Vázquez, Tiago Marcel Santos Vila Nova, Diva Aliete Dos Santos Vieira, L. Viana Pires, Andhressa Araújo Fagundes, Kiriaque Barra Ferreira Barbosa

• español

  Introduction: the simultaneous increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases and in the consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) suggests a possible relationship between UPF and cardiometabolic risk (CMR). Objective: to evaluate the association between food consumption, according to the degree of processing, and CMR in young adults. Methods: this is a comparative cross-sectional study in 120 Brazilian young adults aged 18-25 years, categorized by the presence of CMR. Food consumption was investigated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and classified according to the extent of food processing. Food groups and tertiles in grams of unprocessed, minimally processed (MPF), processed and ultra-processed foods (UPF) were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The associations of food consumption, according to level of processing (MPF and UPF), with CMR components were evaluated using logistic regression models. Results: a high caloric contribution of UPF was observed in the diet of this study population. The total energy intake from lipids in all foods (p = 0.04) and in UPF (p = 0.03) was greater in the group with CMR. A greater consumption of UPF was a risk factor for abdominal obesity (OR = 1.09; 95 % CI = 1.00-1.18) while a greater consumption of MPF was protective for LDL-c alterations independently of sex, physical activity, and alcohol intake (OR = 0.70; 95 % CI = 0.50-0.98). Conclusions: UPF contributed to a greater caloric intake from fat in the CMR, and was a risk factor for abdominal obesity. MPF was an independent protective factor for LDL-c alterations.

• English

  Introduction:the simultaneous increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases and in the consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) suggests a possible relationship between UPF and cardiometabolic risk (CMR).

  Objective:to evaluate the association between food consumption, according to the degree of processing, and CMR in young adults.

  Methods: this is a comparative cross-sectional study in 120 Brazilian young adults aged 18-25 years, categorized by the presence of CMR. Food consumption was investigated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and classified according to the extent of food processing.

  Food groups and tertiles in grams of unprocessed, minimally processed (MPF), processed and ultra-processed foods (UPF) were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The associations of food consumption, according to level of processing (MPF and UPF), with CMR components were evaluated using logistic regression models.

  Results: a high caloric contribution of UPF was observed in the diet of this study population. The total energy intake from lipids in all foods (p = 0.04) and in UPF (p = 0.03) was greater in the group with CMR. A greater consumption of UPF was a risk factor for abdominal obesity (OR = 1.09; 95 % CI = 1.00-1.18) while a greater consumption of MPF was protective for LDL-c alterations independently of sex, physical activity, and alcohol intake (OR = 0.70; 95 % CI = 0.50-0.98).

  Conclusions:UPF contributed to a greater caloric intake from fat in the CMR, and was a risk factor for abdominal obesity. MPF was an inde- pendent protective factor for LDL-c alterations.