Ultra-processed foods increase risk of premature death, a 30-year study finds

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

超加工食品で早死にリスク増大、３０年間の研究で判明

2024.05.10 Fri posted at 18:50 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 米国の専門家を対象とする３０年間の調査を経て、超加工食品の摂取と早死にリスクとの関係を指摘する研究が発表された。ただし影響の大きさは食品によって異なっている。

国連食糧農業機関（ＦＡＯ）は超加工食品について「台所では全くもしくはほとんど使われない原材料、あるいは出来上がった製品を食べやすく、もっとおいしそうに見せるための各種添加物」を含む食品と定義している。

そうした原材料には、かびや細菌の発生を防ぐ防腐剤、人工着色料、分離を防ぐ乳化剤、加工した砂糖や塩、油脂などがあり、ソーダやポテトチップ、インスタントスープ、ナゲット、アイスクリームといった製品に添加されている。

ハーバード大学公衆衛生大学院などの研究チームは、がんや心血管系疾患、糖尿病の病歴がない米国内の健康医療専門家１０万人以上のデータを分析した。参加者は１９８６～２０１８年の３０年以上にわたり、２年ごとに自分の健康とライフスタイルに関する情報を提供。４年ごとに食事に関する詳しいアンケートに回答した。

８日の医学誌ＢＭＪに掲載された論文によると、超加工食品の摂取が最も少なかったグループは１日平均３回食べていたのに対し、最も多いグループは１日平均７回だった。

調査の結果、超加工食品の摂取が最も多いグループは、早死にリスクが４％高いことが判明。中でも神経変性による死亡リスクは９％高かった。

ただし、早死にリスクと超加工食品との相関関係は一律ではなかった。加工肉や砂糖または人工甘味料を使った飲料は、特に死亡リスクに与える影響が大きいことが判明。「加工肉や砂糖入りの飲料、人工甘味料入りの可能性がある飲料は、避けるか制限に務めるべきだと思う」と研究者は助言する。

ただし「全般的に健康的な食生活を維持していれば、それほど恐れる必要はない」とも言い添えた。

Translation

(CNN) After 30 years of research among U.S. experts, a new study had been published that linked the consumption of ultra-processed foods to the risk of premature death. However, the magnitude of the effect differed depending on the food.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defined ultra-processed foods as foods that contained "ingredients that are never or rarely used in the kitchen, or various additives that make the finished product easier to eat or look more appetizing."

These ingredients included preservatives to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria, artificial colors, emulsifiers to prevent separation, processed sugar and salt, and oils and fats, which had been added in products such as soda, potato chips, instant soup, nuggets, and ice cream.

A research team from Harvard School of Public Health and others analyzed data from more than 100,000 health care professionals in the United States who had no history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Participants provided information about their health and lifestyle every two years for more than 30 years, from 1986 to 2018. They completed a detailed questionnaire about their diet every four years.

According to a paper published in the medical journal BMJ on the 8th, the group that took the least amount of ultra-processed foods ate an average of three times a day, while the group that took the most ate them on an average of seven times a day.

The study found that those who consumed the most ultra-processed foods had a 4% higher risk of premature death. Among them, the risk of death due to neurodegeneration was 9% higher.

However, the correlation between the risk of premature death and ultra-processed foods was not uniform. Processed meats and drinks with sugar or artificial sweeteners were found to have a particularly large impact on mortality risk. The researchers advised that "Processed meats and sugary drinks and drinks that may contain artificial sweeteners should be avoided or limited".

However, they added, "If you maintain an overall healthy diet, you don't have to be so afraid."

              So, a new study links the consumption of ultra-processed foods to the risk of premature death. Basically, processed meats and sugary drinks, or drinks that may contain artificial sweeteners should be avoided or limited.