Ultra-processed foods and increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein

This work is intended to explore whether people with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods have significantly increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a sensitive inflammatory marker and accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease.

United States (US) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of 9,254 that included ultra-processed foods as percentage of total energy intake using the validated NOVA classification system. We used means and percentages as measures of effect, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) (P<0.05) to test for significance. Logistic regression analyses used Python 3.12 and the statsmodels package.

Participants had a median energy intake of 35.0% from ultra-processed foods, from 0-19% in the lowest quartile to 60-79% in the highest. The median age was 38.0; 51.8% were women. 27.3% had elevated hs-CRP (≥3 mg/L), with a mean of 1.4 mg/L; 13.1% were current smokers (95% CI: 11.4-15.1%), and 57.2% had no physical activity (95% CI: 55.7-58.7%). After adjusting for these confounders, compared with those consuming 0-19% ultra-processed foods, individuals with 60-79% had significantly increased hs-CRP [RR= 1.11 (95% CI: 1.01-1.21, P<0.05)]. Individuals with 40-59% intake also had a significantly increased hs-CRP [(RR= 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03-1.27, P<0.05)]. There was a nonsignificant 7% increase among those consuming 20-39% ultra-processed foods [RR=1.07 (0.98-1.16, P=ns)].

These data from a large and representative US sample show that those consuming the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods have significantly elevated levels of hs-CRP. The findings have major clinical and public health as well as research implications.