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

Ultra-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. Prospective 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. After 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. Consumption of ultra-processed foods is strongly associated with frailty risk in older adults. Data collection was funded by the following grants: FIS PI16/1512; PI16/1460; PI16/609; PI17/1709 (State Secretary of R + D 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.