High ultraprocessed food intake linked to increased chronic kidney disease risk Original paper

In this meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies, a high intake of ultraprocessed foods was associated with a greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

The association between the intake of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

A total of 219,132 adults (56% women, 44% men) who had no known health conditions at baseline.

A meta-analysis of 4 prospective cohort studies was performed.

The studies were conducted in the United States, the Netherlands, China, and the United Kingdom. Daily UPF intake was estimated using food frequency questionnaires in 3 studies and 24-hour dietary assessments in 1 study. In all studies, adjustments were made for potential confounders, such as age, sex, education level, caloric intake, smoking status, and physical activity level. The follow-up periods ranged from 3.6 to 24 years.

Compared to the first quartile of UPF intake (the lowest UPF intake), the third quartile was associated with a 10% higher risk of CKD, whereas the fourth quartile (the highest UPF intake) was associated with a 25% higher risk of CKD.

All studies included in the meta-analysis were of high methodological quality.