Health
Study links common food preservatives to higher risk of hypertension, heart disease
A new French study has linked several common food preservatives used in store-bought foods to an increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, raising fresh concerns about the health effects of additives commonly found in processed and ultra-processed foods.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, found that people who consumed higher amounts of certain preservatives were more likely to develop hypertension, heart attacks and stroke over time.
Researchers analysed data from more than 112,000 participants enrolled in the NutriNet-Santé cohort, an ongoing French nutrition and health study that has tracked dietary habits since 2009.
Burden of heart disease in Nigeria
The findings come as Nigeria continues to face a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, stroke and heart disease.
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels remains consistently too high. Over time, the condition can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, potentially causing paralysis, speech problems or death.
Heart attacks happen when blood flow to part of the heart becomes blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching heart muscles.
According to a report by PREMIUM TIMES, health experts and existing reports, hypertension remains one of the most common non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, with many cases undiagnosed until complications develop.
Preservatives linked to cardiovascular risk
According to the findings, preservatives used to prevent spoilage caused by bacteria, mould and yeast were associated with significantly higher cardiovascular risks.
The study reported that higher consumption of these preservatives was linked to a 29 per cent greater risk of elevated blood pressure and a 16 per cent increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.
Researchers identified three “non-antioxidant” preservatives strongly associated with hypertension. These include potassium sorbate, potassium metabisulphite and sodium nitrite.
Potassium sorbate is commonly used in baked goods, cheeses, sauces and wine, while potassium metabisulphite is often found in wine, juice, cider and beer.
Sodium nitrite is widely used in processed meats such as bacon, ham and deli meats.
The study also found that several antioxidant preservatives, often described as “natural”, were associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
These include ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, sodium erythorbate, citric acid and rosemary extracts, which are commonly used to prevent foods from turning brown or rancid.
Higher intake of these antioxidant preservatives was associated with a 22 per cent greater risk of high blood pressure.
Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, was specifically linked to cardiovascular disease in the study.
Researchers noted that although ascorbic acid and citric acid naturally occur in fruits and vegetables, additives used in processed foods may not have the same health effects as naturally occurring compounds.
Ultra-processed foods under scrutiny
The findings add to growing evidence linking ultra-processed foods to poor health outcomes.
Researchers noted that preservatives are not limited to ultra-processed foods alone, as earlier findings showed that only about 35 per cent of preservative intake came from ultra-processed products.
Still, the study highlighted the widespread presence of preservatives across many commonly consumed foods and reinforced recommendations encouraging people to consume more fresh and minimally processed foods.
Researchers advised consumers to prioritise fresh, uncooked and minimally processed foods where possible.
Frozen foods preserved through low temperatures rather than additives were also identified as preferable alternatives.
Long-term dietary tracking
To conduct the research, participants recorded all foods and drinks consumed over three days every six months, including brand names.
Researchers then matched these records with ingredient databases to estimate preservative exposure over several years.
Medical records from the French national healthcare system were used to track diagnoses of hypertension and cardiovascular disease over the study period.
The researchers examined 58 preservatives in total and conducted detailed analysis on 17 additives consumed by at least 10 per cent of participants. Eight of those preservatives were associated with increased hypertension risk over the following decade.
READ ALSO: WHO, EU launch health support project as Nigeria battles multiple disease outbreaks
Links to cancer, diabetes
The study builds on previous research linking similar preservatives to increased risks of cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Earlier findings identified preservatives such as sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, sorbates, potassium metabisulphite, acetates and acetic acid as being associated with higher risks of prostate cancer, breast cancer and other cancers.
Several of the same preservatives were also previously linked to a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Although the researchers noted that the findings do not establish direct cause and effect, they said the results highlight the need for further investigation into the long-term health effects of food additives and preservatives.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of two people allegedly involved in the assault of a medical officer at Gwarinpa General Hospital, Lifecamp, Abuja.
NARD made the demand in a statement issued on Friday, following the alleged assault of a senior medical officer while on call at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit on 31 August.
According to the association, a patient physically attacked the doctor and his companion following a disagreement over his clinical assessment.
The alleged assailants also threatened the doctor and his family, NARD said.
The association described the incident as unacceptable, saying it posed a serious threat to the safety, dignity and welfare of healthcare workers providing essential services to the public.
48-hour service reduction
NARD said it supports the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT Administration (ARD-FCTA), resolution to embark on a 48-hour step-down of services at Gwarinpa General Hospital.
The action commenced at 8 a.m. on 3 September and is expected to end at 8 a.m. on 5 September.
The association said the action was in line with the North Central Caucus Guidelines for responding to assaults against its members.
NARD commended the leadership and Congress of ARD-FCTA for exercising “patience, restraint, and maturity” by giving relevant authorities a reasonable time to address the matter.
NARD demands action
The doctors’ association called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to immediately apprehend, investigate, and prosecute the alleged assailants in accordance with the law.
“Any delay in taking decisive action risks creating a dangerous precedent and further exposing healthcare workers to violence,” the association said.
NARD also urged the FCT Hospitals Management Board and other relevant authorities to strengthen security across healthcare facilities, particularly Accident and Emergency Units.
It said improved security was necessary to protect healthcare workers, patients and hospital property.
The association expressed solidarity with the affected doctor and his family, assuring its members that it remained committed to protecting their safety, dignity and welfare.
ALSO READ: Assault on doctor triggers fresh strike at teaching hospital, months after EFCC controversy
“Violence against healthcare workers is unacceptable,” NARD said, stressing that doctors must be allowed to perform their duties in a safe and secure environment.
Recent case
The incident comes amid renewed concerns over violence against healthcare workers and its impact on hospital services.
On Wednesday, resident doctors at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, began an indefinite strike following the alleged assault of a house officer by an elderly woman at the hospital.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State branch, gave the hospital management and security agencies 48 hours to identify and prosecute those responsible for the alleged assault.
The Uyo action followed another disruption at the same hospital in May, when doctors embarked on an indefinite strike after an operation by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the facility triggered controversy over alleged assault and the arrest of hospital workers.
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The Yobe State government spends about N360 million annually to provide free dialysis services at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Baba Goni, has said.
Mr Goni said the hospital conducts between 600 and 700 free haemodialysis sessions every month under the programme, which has been running since 2017.
He disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Thursday.
According to him, the hospital spends N30 million monthly on the programme.
“In dialysis, you don’t count the number of patients because one patient can have two or three sessions in a week,” he said.
“The cost of dialysis per session in other teaching hospitals is about N50,000, excluding the cost of drugs, laboratory investigation and admission where necessary.”
Mr Goni said the state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a reputable company supplying dialysis consumables to ensure that the treatment was sustained.
He said the hospital also performed free fistula surgeries to have “vascular access” to patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.
According to him, vascular surgeons are usually invited to conduct the procedure on patients while the hospital pays for the services and purchases the required consumables.
The CMD said a water treatment plant and five additional dialysis machines were recently procured, bringing the total number of functional dialysis machines at the facility to 11.
Mr Goni said that plans had reached an advanced stage to establish another dialysis centre at the Specialists’ Hospital, Gashua, the epicentre of kidney disease in the state.
He said the proposed dialysis centre in Gashua was captured in the 2026 budget to justify the commitment of the state government to the project aimed at easing the suffering of the people.
“Recently, we travelled to Ghana with the Commissioner for Health, where we negotiated with some partners to bring in these dialysis machines and train our nurses and medical engineers who will maintain them,” he said.
“Very soon, people will start enjoying these services over there, so that they don’t have to bear the inconvenience and transportation cost of coming to Damaturu for the treatment.
“I am using this medium to appeal to our people for their understanding of the complex nature of planning and implementation of government projects, which usually take some time.”
Mr Goni announced that a preliminary report on the 2025 kidney disease research, sponsored by the state and conducted in Gashua, would soon be submitted to Governor Mai Mala Buni for necessary action.
He, however, said the report would be thoroughly scrutinised before causality could be established because drawing conclusions on things that were not clear could have economic consequences.
READ ALSO: Katsina health workers to begin 7-day warning strike 8 Sept
“Sometimes the report may suggest action to be taken against the economic livelihood of the communities. We don’t want to do that if we are not fully convinced because poverty is also a problem.
“Remember, during the COVID-19 pandemic, communities were locked down, and the consequences were worse than COVID because many people could not go out to fend for their families,” he said.
Mr Goni said the state and the Urology and Nephrology Centre, Mansoura in Egypt, had, in 2018, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for training doctors and other specialists at the YSUTH on kidney transplant.
He said although, the programme was obstructed by the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts were made to resume its implementation.
(NAN)
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