Consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados y su asociación con enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en adultos mayores

Gabriela Mishel  Gonzalez Moran; Johanna  Orozco Falconi; Mónica Lisette  Valle Gurumendi

doi:10.59169/pentaciencias.v8i3.1851

Authors

Gabriela Mishel Gonzalez Moran Universidad Estatal de Milagro https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4615-7885
Johanna Orozco Falconi Universidad Estatal de Milagro https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0245-5702
Mónica Lisette Valle Gurumendi Universidad Estatal de Milagro https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0396-9389

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59169/pentaciencias.v8i3.1851

Keywords:

ultra-processed foods; non-communicable diseases; older adults; aging; systematic review

Abstract

The consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased steadily over recent decades, becoming a major public health concern due to its association with the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Among older adults, this issue is particularly relevant because of the high prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the available scientific evidence on the association between ultra-processed food consumption and non-communicable diseases in older adults. A systematic literature search was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, using the SPIDER framework to develop the search strategy and study selection process. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Observational studies (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional) published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese were included. A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings showed consistent associations between higher ultra-processed food consumption and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia, impaired kidney function, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, and mortality. Additionally, some studies reported associations with heart failure and an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile. In conclusion, the available evidence suggests that a high intake of ultra-processed foods represents an important modifiable risk factor for the development of non-communicable diseases in older adults. However, further longitudinal studies using standardized methodologies are needed to strengthen the evidence on this association.

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