Ultra-processed Food Consumption and Incident Frailty: A Prospective Cohort Study of Older Adults (P01-012-19).

Abstract

Objectives\nUltra-processed food intake has been associated with chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and incident frailty in community-dwelling older adults.\n\n\nMethods\nProspective cohort study with 1822 individuals aged ≥60 who were recruited during 2008-2010 in Spain. At baseline, food consumption was obtained using a validated computerized face-to-face dietary history. Ultra-processed foods were identified according to the nature and extent of their industrial processing (NOVA classification). In 2012, incident frailty was ascertained based on Fried s criteria. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression and adjusted for the main potential confounders.\n\n\nResults\nAfter a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, 132 cases of frailty were identified. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for frailty across increasing quartiles of the percentage of total energy intake from ultra-processed foods were: 1.00, 1.52 (0.78-2.96), 2.98 (1.62-5.50), and 3.67 (2.00-6.73); p for linear trend: <0.001. Results were similar when food consumption was expressed as gram per day/body weight. Regarding ultra-processed food groups, the highest versus the lowest tertiles of consumption of yogurts and fermented milks, cakes and pastries, as well as non-alcoholic beverages (instant coffee and cocoa, packaged juices, and other non-alcoholic drinks, excluding soft drinks) were also significantly related to incident frailty.\n\n\nConclusions\nConsumption of ultra-processed foods is strongly associated with frailty risk in older adults.\n\n\nFunding Sources\nData collection was funded by the following grants: FIS PI16/1512; PI16/1460; PI16/609; PI17/1709 (State Secretary of R\xa0+\xa0D and FEDER/FSE), the ATHLOS project (EU H2020-Project ID: 635316), the SALAMANDER project (PCIN-2016-145), and the CIBERESP, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.