Introduction and objectives. Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess, for the first time in the literature, the prospective association between UPF consumption and the incidence of abdominal obesity (AO) in older adults. Methods. The study sample consists of 652 participants in the Seniors Study on Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk in Spain: Seniors-ENRICA-1 study, (mean age 67, 44% women). At baseline, standardized anthropometric measurements were collected (including abdominal circumference). After a median follow-up of six years, the abdominal circumference was measured again, and the incidence of abdominal obesity (AO) was calculated, defined as an abdominal perimeter ≥102 cm in men and ≥88 cm in women. At baseline, dietary information was collected using a computerized and validated dietary history. Information was obtained on the usual diet in the previous year. A total number of 880 foods were classified according to their degree of processing following the NOVA classification. Foods or drinks formulated mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods, with little or no presence of the unaltered original food were classified as UPF. For each participant, the percentage of energy from UPF was derived and sex-specific tertiles were calculated. Logistic regression models were built and adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, morbidity, and drug treatment variables. Results. Among those participants without AO at baseline, 177 developed AO during follow-up. The average consumption of UPF was 17% of total energy (7% in the first tertile; 29% in the third tertile). The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for incident AO risk when compared to the lowest tertile was: 1.55 (0.99–2.44) for the second tertile of UPF consumption and 1.62 (1.04–2.54) for the third tertile; p for linear trend: 0.037. Results remained statistically significant after adjusting for potential dietary confounding factors such as fiber consumption, the intake of very long chain omega-3 fatty acids and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Conclusions. A higher UPF consumption is positively associated with incident AO in older adults in Spain. These findings extend the current evidence of the detrimental effect of UPF consumption on cardiometabolic health.

Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular risk factors and mortality. However, little is known on the UPF effect on renal function. The aim of this study is to assess prospectively the association between consumption of UPF and renal function decline. This is a prospective cohort study of 1312 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 and older recruited during 2008–2010 and followed up to December 2015. At baseline, a validated dietary history was obtained. UPF was identified according to NOVA classification. At baseline and at follow-up, serum creatinine (SCr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels were ascertained and changes were calculated. A combined end-point of renal decline was considered: SCr increase or eGFR decreased beyond that expected for age. Logistic regression with adjustment for potential confounders was performed. During follow-up, 183 cases of renal function decline occurred. The fully adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) of renal function decline across terciles of percentage of total energy intake from UPF were 1.56 (1.02–2.38) for the second tercile, and 1.74 (1.14–2.66) for the highest tercile; p-trend was 0.026. High UPF consumption is independently associated with an increase higher than 50% in the risk of renal function decline in Spanish older adults.

Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (FVs) are the main source of general population exposure to pesticide residues. To evaluate the relation of intake of high- and low-pesticide-residue FVs with cancer risk. We followed 150,830 women (Nurses' Health Study, 1998-2016, and Nurses' Health Study II, 1999-2017) and 29,486 men (Health Professionals Follow-up Study, 1998-2016) without a history of cancer. We ascertained FV intake via validated food frequency questionnaires and categorized FVs as having high or low pesticide residue levels based on USDA surveillance data. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of total and site-specific cancer related to quintiles of high- and low-pesticide-residue FV intake. We documented 23,678 incident cancer cases during 2,862,118 person-years of follow-up. In the pooled multivariable analysis, neither high- nor low-pesticide-residue FV intake was associated with cancer. The HRs (95% CI) per 1 serving/day increase in intake were 0.99 (0.97-1.01) for high- and 1.01 (0.99-1.02) for low-pesticide-residue FVs. Additionally, we found no association between high-pesticide-residue FV intake and risk of specific sites, including malignancies previously linked to occupational pesticide exposure ([HR, 95% CI comparing extreme quintiles of intake] lung [1.17 (0.95-1.43)], non-Hodgkin lymphoma [0.89 (0.72-1.09)], prostate [1.31 (0.88-1.93)]) or inversely related to intake of organic foods (breasts [1.03 (0.94-1.31)]). These findings suggest that overall exposure to pesticides through FV intake is not related to cancer risk, although they do not rule out associations with specific chemicals or sub-types of specific cancers.

The specific association of olive oil consumption with coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke has not been totally established. to examine whether olive oil consumption is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, the risk of total cardiovascular disease (CVD), CHD, and stroke. Three cohorts were included: AWHS (2318 men), SUN Project (18,266 men and women), and EPIC-Spain (39,393 men and women). Olive oil consumption was measured at baseline using validated questionnaires. In the AWHS, 747 participants had a positive coronary artery calcium score (CACS>0), and the OR (95% CI) was 0.89 (0.72, 1.10) in those with virgin olive oil consumption ≥30 g/day (v. <10 g/day). In the SUN Project (follow-up 10.8 years) 261 total CVD cases occurred, and the HR was 0.57 (0.34, 0.96) for consumptions ≥30 g/day (v. <10 g/day). In the EPIC-Spain (follow-up 22.8 years) 1300 CHD cases and 938 stroke cases occurred; the HRs for stroke according, 0 to <10 (ref), 10 to <20, 20 to <30, and ≥30 g/day of olive oil consumption, were 0.84 (0.70, 1.02), 0.80 (0.66, 0.96), 0.89 (0.74, 1.07). A weaker association was observed for CHD. The association was stronger among those consuming virgin olive oil, instead of common (refined). Olive oil is associated with lower risk of CVD and stroke. The maximum benefit could be obtained with a consumption between 20 and 30 g/day. The association could be stronger for virgin olive oil and might operate from the early stages of the disease.

Intake of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (FVs) is an important route of exposure to pesticide residues in the general population. However, whether health risk stemming from exposure to pesticides through diet could offset benefits of consuming FVs is unclear. We assessed the association of FV intake, classified according to their pesticide residue status, with total and cause-specific mortality. We followed 137,378 women (NHS, 1998–2019, and NHSII, 1999–2019) and 23,502 men (HPFS, 1998–2020) without cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes at baseline. FV intake was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires and categorized as having high- or low-pesticide-residues using data from the USDA Pesticide Data Program. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for total and cause-specific mortality associated with high- and low-pesticide-residue FV intake. A total of 27,026 deaths, including 4,318 from CVD and 6,426 from cancer, were documented during 3,081,360 person-years of follow-up. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, participants who consumed ≥4 servings/day of low-pesticide-residue FVs had 36% (95% CI: 32%-41%) lower mortality risk compared to participants who consumed <1 serving/day. The corresponding estimate for high-pesticide residue FV intake was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.81–1.07). This pattern was similar across the three most frequent causes of death (cardiovascular disease, cancer and respiratory diseases). High-pesticide-residue FV intake was unrelated whereas low-pesticide residue FV intake was inversely related to all-cause mortality, suggesting that exposure to pesticide residues through diet may offset the beneficial effect of FV intake on mortality.

(1) Background: The increasing occurrence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is largely related to harmful food habits. Among them, the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is noteworthy. However, to our knowledge, there are not enough high-quality methodological studies summarizing the association between the intake of SSBs and the MetS. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the existing published results on this association among adults by synthesizing the existing evidence. (2) Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant information was extracted and presented following the PRISMA recommendations. PubMed and SCOPUS databases were searched for studies published until June 2022 that assessed the association between SSB consumption (including soft drinks, bottled fruit juices, energy drinks, and milkshakes) and the occurrence of MetS. Random effect models were used to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% coefficient interval, and I² was used to assess heterogeneity. (3) Results: A total of 14 publications from 6 different countries were included in this meta-analysis (9 cross-sectional and 5 cohort studies). For the cross-sectional studies, which included 62,693 adults, the pooled OR for the risk of MetS was 1.35 (95% CI 1.15, 1.58; I² 57%) when the highest versus the lowest categories of SSB consumption were compared. For the cohort studies, which included 28,932 adults, the pooled OR was 1.18 (95% CI 1.06, 1.32; I² 70%). (4) Conclusions: The consumption of SSBs was positively associated with an increased risk of MetS. The published literature supports public health strategies and the need to reduce the consumption of SSBs to prevent MetS.