Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Increased Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Adults: The ELSA-Brasil
Authors' conclusion
Greater consumption of UPFs is associated with an increased risk of MetS. These findings have important implications for diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention and management.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged 35–74 years, employees of six public education and research institutions in Brazil, without metabolic syndrome (MetS) at baseline; median age 49 years, 59% women15,105 enrolled
- Participants
- 8,065 adults
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption
- Outcome
- Incident MetS (≥3 of: high fasting glucose, high TG, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity)
- Follow-up
- 8 years
Methodological detailsELSA-Brasil, robust Poisson regression
- ELSA-Brasil
- Robust Poisson regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident MetS
Q4 vs Q1Relative risk (95% CI)
Adjusted for sociodemographics, behavioral factors, energy intake
1.33(1.20–1.47)
Further adjusted for BMI
1.19(1.07–1.32)
- RR per 150 g/day increase in UPF consumption
- 1.07 (95% CI 1.05-1.08)
- RR per 150 g/day increase, further adjusted for BMI
- 1.04 (95% CI 1.02-1.06)
- New cases of MetS
- 2,508
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Increased Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Adults: The ELSA-Brasil. Diabetes Care. Published 14 December 2022. doi:10.
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