Total Polyphenol Intake, Polyphenol Subtypes, and Prevalence of Hypertension in the CUME Cohort

Effects of minimally and ultra-processed foods on blood pressure in Brazilian adults: a two-year follow up of the CUME Project

AIM

To assess the association of food consumption according to degree of processing with changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in adult participants of a Brazilian cohort.

METHODS

Longitudinal study with 2496 adult participants of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME Project). Food consumption was categorized by food groups according to degree of processing following the NOVA grading system: unprocessed/minimally processed foods/culinary ingredients (U/MPF&CI), processed foods (PFs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs). unprocessed/minimally processed foods/culinary ingredients (U/MPF&CI), processed foods (PFs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Changes in SBP and DBP were categorized (decreased, maintained, increased). Independent associations between exposure and outcomes were verified using multiple generalized ordered logistic models adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

After a two-year follow-up, the consumption of U/MPF&CI (% daily caloric intake) reduced the chance of increasing DBP (P for trend = 0.014), with a more evident effect among participants within the 5th quintile of this food group (odds ratio (OR) = 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34-0.97]. On the other hand, the consumption of UPFs (% daily caloric intake) raised the chance of increasing DBP (P for trend = 0.005) and was more evident among participants within the quintiles of higher consumption (4th quintile - OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.25-3.10; 5th quintile - OR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.12-2.86). No associations were found between food consumption according to degree of processing and changes in SBP.

CONCLUSION

Higher consumption of U/MPF&CI and UPFs were independently associated to lower and greater chances of increased DBP in adult participants from CUME Project.

Associations Between Household Pesticide Exposure, Smoking and Hypertension

This analysis aims to investigate the association between household pesticide exposure and hypertension risk, and to determine whether smoking plays a role in this association. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 1999–2014, including a total of 32,309 U.S. adult participants who were 20 years or older. Smoking status and pesticide exposure were self-reported. Blood pressure was measured by trained personnel using a mercury sphygmomanometer, according to a standardized protocol. We observed an increased risk of hypertension (OR [odds ratio] = 1.10, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.01–1.18) in participants with exposure to household pesticides. Moreover, a significant interaction between smoking status and pesticide exposure on hypertension was observed (P = 0.022). Stratified analysis showed that household pesticide exposure was associated with a 29% higher risk of hypertension (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.08–1.53) in smokers. However, for non-smokers, this association was not significant. Similar trends were found for systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In addition, we investigated the associations between pesticide metabolites in urine/serum and hypertension and found that several metabolites of dioxins, furans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls were significantly associated with a higher risk of hypertension. This study suggests that household pesticide exposure is associated with an elevated risk of hypertension. We also report that smoking may accentuate the effect of pesticide exposure on hypertension.