24/06/2026 11:29 - Salud
What we eat directly influences our risk of developing chronic diseases. In recent years, multiple scientific studies have pointed to the same recommendation: prioritize real foods and limit ultra-processed consumption, even when they're marketed with "healthy" or "light" labels.
In line with this, recent French research published in European Heart Journal, the scientific journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), suggests that people who regularly consume products with preservatives may face a higher risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.
The observational study was led by the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team at Sorbonne Paris Nord University and University Paris Cité, with Dr. Mathilde Touvier (INSERM research director) and Anaïs Hasenböhler (PhD student) as lead researchers.
The analysis, part of the NutriNet-Santé cohort, followed 112,395 volunteers across France for an average of seven to eight years. Every six months, participants reported everything they had eaten and drunk during three-day periods.
Key Finding: 99.5% of participants consumed at least one food preservative during the first two years of the study.
Researchers analyzed in detail the ingredients of foods and beverages, including their preservatives, and monitored participants' health to detect whether they developed hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
Note: In Europe and many countries, food additives are labeled with "E" numbers. These codes help identify specific ingredients on product labels.
| Additive | Code | Common Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium Sorbate | E202 | Industrial breads, cheeses, beverages, packaged products |
| Potassium Metabisulfite | E224 | Wines, dried fruits, preserved foods |
| Sodium Nitrite | E250 | Cold cuts, sausages, ham, processed meats |
| Ascorbic Acid | E300 | Beverages, baked goods, canned foods, industrial products |
| Sodium Ascorbate | E301 | Processed meats, packaged products |
| Sodium Erythorbate | E316 | Cold cuts, cured meats |
| Citric Acid | E330 | Soft drinks, candies, juices, sauces, ultra-processed foods |
| Rosemary Extracts | E392 | Snacks, ready-to-eat meals, frozen products |
Dr. Nicolás Renna, president of the Inter-American Society of Hypertension (IASH), former president of the Argentine Society of Arterial Hypertension (SAHA), and CONICET researcher, stated that "this is a very relevant study due to its large population size and the quality of dietary information collected."
"However, it is important to highlight that this is an observational study. This means it demonstrates an association, but cannot confirm that preservatives are the direct cause of hypertension or cardiovascular events."
— Dr. Nicolás Renna, president of the Inter-American Society of Hypertension
Renna, head of the Coronary Unit and Hypertension Unit at the Spanish Hospital of Mendoza (Argentina), clarified that "the recommendation is not to generate fear toward a specific preservative, but to improve the overall quality of nutrition."
"It's not about completely eliminating these foods, but rather ensuring they don't form the basis of the diet. Current evidence suggests that the overall dietary pattern has much more impact on cardiovascular health than any single ingredient or isolated additive," he added.
The specialist noted that hypertension prevention is based on lifestyle interventions with scientific evidence:
From a nutritional perspective, the dietary patterns with the strongest scientific backing are the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and the Mediterranean diet. Both promote high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and fish, along with lower intake of ultra-processed foods and sodium.
"These results should be interpreted as a warning signal and as a new piece of evidence within an increasingly large body of data linking ultra-processed foods with higher cardiovascular risk," Renna pointed out.
"In daily clinical practice, they don't justify banning certain additives nor do they generate immediate changes in recommendations, but they do reinforce the importance of promoting dietary patterns based on fresh or minimally processed foods," he concluded.
The specialist also emphasized that "regular blood pressure measurement is fundamental, as hypertension is often a silent disease, and early detection allows preventing heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease."
Dr. Touvier warned that the study has some limitations inherent to its observational design. However, the findings are based on very detailed data, and researchers accounted for other factors that may increase or decrease cardiovascular disease risk.
The experimental research published consistently suggests that preservatives may cause oxidative stress in the body or affect pancreatic function.
Source: Infobae | European Heart Journal
Alfredo S. Quiroga
