Ultra-processed foods linked to plaque buildup in neck arteries
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
A diet high in ultra-processed foods is linked to a higher amount of fatty plaque in the carotid arteries, a new study finds. The four carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, run up the sides of the neck.
The study included 768 people (average age of 71) who had MRI scans of their carotid arteries. Researchers divided participants into four groups based on their intake of ultra-processed food. These foods tend to be high in added sugar, fat, salt, and calories and low in healthy nutrients like protein and fiber. People with the top quartile consumed about 11 daily servings of ultra-processed foods (mostly bread, pizza, cookies, and pastries), compared to 4.5 servings per day among those in the lowest quartile.
After adjusting for confounding factors, such as health conditions and habits, researchers found that the more ultra-processed food people ate, the more carotid plaque they had. The study was published in the September 2025 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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