Ultra-processed foods, diet quality, and heart health: a trans-Atlantic study
Official title: Ultra-processed Foods, Diet Quality, and Cardiometabolic Health: An Inter-disciplinary Trans-Atlantic Collaborative Project
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11417458 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant funds a study to understand how ultra-processed foods affect weight and heart-related health, and whether improving overall diet quality can offset any negative effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $815,697 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK120870-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417458 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for cardiometabolic diseases who are willing to participate in controlled feeding studies and provide blood samples for biomarker analyses.
✕Less likely to help
People unable to participate in long dietary studies or who have conditions incompatible with controlled-feeding protocols may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will compare how ultra-processed foods influence metabolism and cardiometabolic risk, using controlled feeding trials and metabolomic analyses. Researchers will test whether a healthier, plant-based diet with fewer ultra-processed foods leads to better metabolic health, beyond simply reducing calories. By analyzing biomarkers in blood and other samples, the study aims to uncover how diet quality interacts with UPF intake to affect body weight and risk factors for disease. The work is led by Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in collaboration with international partners, and will involve detailed dietary control and advanced data analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide dietary recommendations to reduce cardiometabolic risk by moderating ultra-processed foods and improving overall diet quality.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests UPF intake affects energy balance and weight; this study builds on that while specifically isolating diet quality effects.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Qi — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Sun, Qi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.