A massive study suggests that some common food preservatives may be putting heart health at risk. A major study of 112,395 people tracked diets in remarkable detail, including the specific food additives participants consumed. Researchers identified eight commonly used food preservatives that were linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease. The strongest associations were seen in people who consumed the largest amounts of preservatives, suggesting that greater exposure may carry greater health risks.People who regularly consume foods containing common preservatives may face a greater risk of developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a new study published in the European Heart Journal.
The research was led by Dr. Mathilde Touvier, research director at INSERM (the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research), and Anaïs Hasenböhler, a PhD student. Both are members of the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team at Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and Université Paris Cité in France.
Large Study Examined Food Preservatives and Heart Health
Food preservatives are widely used in industrially processed foods to extend shelf life and maintain product quality. Although previous laboratory and experimental studies have suggested that some of these additives could affect cardiovascular health, evidence from human populations has been limited.
