Implications of food ultra-processing on cardiovascular risk considering plant origin foods: an analysis of the UK Biobank cohort.

Background: Comprehensive research evidence is lacking on the role of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in the relationship between the consumption of plant-sourced foods and their impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. This study aims to assess CVD risk associated with the dietary contribution of food groups that consider both plant or animal origin and food processing categories, within a large cohort of British adults. Methods: Data from the UK Biobank participants (40-69 y) who completed at least two 24-h dietary recalls between 2009 and 2012 (n = 126,842; median follow-up: 9 y), with subsequent data linkage to hospital and mortality records, were used. Food groups were classified as either plant-sourced or non-plant/animal-sourced foods. These groups were further divided into non-UPF and UPF, and expressed as a percentage of total energy intake. Findings: Every 10 percentage points increase in plant-sourced non-UPF consumption was associated with a 7% lower risk of CVD (95% CI 0.91-0.95) and a 13% lower risk of CVD mortality (0.80-0.94). Conversely, plant-sourced UPF consumption was associated with a 5% increased risk (1.03-1.07) and a 12% higher mortality (1.05-1.20). The contribution of all UPF was linked to higher CVD risk and mortality, and no evidence for an association between contribution of all plant-sourced foods and CVD incidence and mortality was observed. Interpretation: The dietary contribution of plant-sourced non-UPF inversely linked to CVD risk, while plant-sourced UPF contribution showed a positive association. Recognizing the role of food processing is crucial for favourable CVD outcomes, even in plant-sourced diets. Funding: World Cancer Research Fund.

Consumption of industrial processed foods and risk of premenopausal breast cancer among Latin American women: the PRECAMA study.

Ultra-processed food intake has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in Western populations. No data are available in the Latin American population although the consumption of ultra-processed foods is increasing rapidly in this region. We evaluated the association of ultra-processed food intake to breast cancer risk in a case-control study including 525 cases (women aged 20-45 years) and 525 matched population-based controls from Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico. The degree of processing of foods was classified according to the NOVA classification. Overall, the major contributors to ultra-processed food intake were ready-to-eat/heat foods (18.2%), cakes and desserts (16.7%), carbonated and industrial fruit juice beverages (16.7%), breakfast cereals (12.9%), sausages and reconstituted meat products (12.1%), industrial bread (6.1%), dairy products and derivatives (7.6%) and package savoury snacks (6.1%). Ultra-processed food intake was positively associated with the risk of breast cancer in adjusted models (OR T3-T1=1.93; 95% CI=1.11 to 3.35). Specifically, a higher risk was observed with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer (ORT3-T1=2.44, (95% CI=1.01 to 5.90, P-trend=0.049), while no significant association was observed with oestrogen receptor negative breast cancer (ORT3-T1=1.87, 95% CI=0.43 to 8.13, P-trend=0.36). Our findings suggest that the consumption of ultra-processed foods might increase the risk of breast cancer in young women in Latin America. Further studies should confirm these findings and disentangle specific mechanisms relating ultra-processed food intake and carcinogenic processes in the breast.

Biomarkers of mammographic density in premenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: While mammographic density is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer, little is known about its determinants, especially in young women. We applied targeted metabolomics to identify circulating metabolites specifically associated with mammographic density in premenopausal women. Then, we aimed to identify potential correlates of these biomarkers to guide future research on potential modifiable determinants of mammographic density. METHODS: A total of 132 metabolites (acylcarnitines, amino acids, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, hexose) were measured by tandem liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in plasma samples from 573 premenopausal participants in the Mexican Teachers' Cohort. Associations between metabolites and percent mammographic density were assessed using linear regression models, adjusting for breast cancer risk factors and accounting for multiple tests. Mean concentrations of metabolites associated with percent mammographic density were estimated across levels of several lifestyle and metabolic factors. RESULTS: Sphingomyelin (SM) C16:1 and phosphatidylcholine (PC) ae C30:2 were inversely associated with percent mammographic density after correction for multiple tests. Linear trends with percent mammographic density were observed for SM C16:1 only in women with body mass index (BMI) below the median (27.4) and for PC ae C30:2 in women with a BMI over the median. SM C16:1 and PC ae C30:2 concentrations were positively associated with cholesterol (total and HDL) and inversely associated with number of metabolic syndrome components. CONCLUSIONS: We identified new biomarkers associated with mammographic density in young women. The association of these biomarkers with mammographic density and metabolic parameters may provide new perspectives to support future preventive actions for breast cancer.

Reproductive factors and risk of breast cancer in black South African women.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer (BC) is increasing in black South African women, but few studies have investigated its risk factors. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of reproductive factors and BC risk in the South African Breast Cancer (SABC) study-a population-based case-control study of black South African women from Soweto that included 399 cases and 399 matched controls. Information on lifestyle and reproductive history was obtained by interviews. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine the association of reproductive factors with BC, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of all BC cases were ER+, 66% PR+, 30% HER2+, and 16% TN. None of the reproductive variables were associated with BC overall or by subtype in the overall population, nor in pre- (n = 135 cases) or in post-menopausal women separately. In HIV-negative pre-menopausal women (n = 97 cases), later age at first pregnancy and longer time between menarche and first full-time pregnancy were inversely related to BC risk (OR 0.89 (95% CI 0.82-0.97; and 0.93 95% CI 0.86-1.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this population of black South African women, reproductive factors were not associated with BC risk.

Association between serum phospholipid fatty acid levels and adiposity in Mexican women.

Fatty acids (FAs) have been postulated to impact adiposity, but few epidemiological studies addressing this hypothesis have been conducted. This study investigated the association between serum phospholipid FAs (S-PLFAs) and indicators of obesity. BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were collected from 372 healthy Mexican women included as controls in a case-control study. S-PLFA percentages were determined through gas chromatography. Desaturation indices, SCD-16, SCD-18, FA desaturase (FADS)1, and FADS2, biomarkers of endogenous metabolism, were proxied respectively as 16:1n-7/16:0, 18:1n-9/18:0, 20:4n-6/20:3n-6, and 22:6n-3/20:5n-3. Multiple linear regressions adjusted for relevant confounders and corrected for multiple testing were conducted to determine the association between S-PLFA, desaturation indices, and indicators of adiposity. SCD-16 (ß = 0.034, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), palmitoleic acid (ß = 0.031, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (ß = 0.043, P = 0.000, q = 0.0002) were positively associated with BMI. Total n-6 PUFAs (ß = 1.497, P = 0.047, q = 0.22) and the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs (ß = 0.034, P = 0.040, q = 0.19) were positively associated with WHR, while odd-chain FAs (pentadecanoic and heptadecanoic acid) showed negative associations with all the adiposity indicators. In conclusion, increased endogenous synthesis of palmitoleic acid and a high n-6/n-3 ratio are associated with increased adiposity, while odd-chain FAs are associated with decreased adiposity. Further studies are needed to determine the potential causality behind these associations.