Poor dietary habits, specifically high sodium intake and a lack of fruits and whole grains, were linked to nearly six million cardiovascular deaths worldwide in 2023, according to a new study published in Nutrition Insight.
The research analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, identifying high sodium intake, low fruit consumption, and insufficient whole grains as the top three dietary drivers of heart disease and stroke. Men experienced a significantly higher burden of diet-related cardiovascular disease than women across nearly all regions.
China recorded the highest number of diet-attributable cardiovascular deaths at 1.36 million, followed by India at 1.11 million. While age-standardized mortality rates have declined due to better healthcare, the total number of deaths continues to rise because of aging populations and increased consumption of processed foods, particularly in Pacific Island nations.
How dietary risks translate into preventable deaths
The study found that dietary risk factors were associated with 5.91 million cardiovascular deaths globally in 2023. Beyond sodium, fruits, and whole grains, low intake of nuts and seeds, vegetables, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids also contributed to disease risk. Ischemic heart disease and stroke were the primary outcomes of these poor dietary patterns.
For more on this story, see DASH Diet Delivery: Lower BP & Cholesterol.
Researchers emphasized that while medical advances have lowered per-capita death rates, the absolute number of lives lost is growing. As populations age and shift toward processed foods, the total burden of diet-related heart disease increases even as individual risk improves.
What researchers recommend to reduce the burden
The study authors called for population-specific dietary strategies, such as low-sodium food reformulation initiatives in China and efforts to make nutritious foods more affordable in Pacific Island nations. They stressed that improving diet quality must remain a central pillar of global heart disease prevention.
This approach mirrors past efforts following the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, which similarly identified diet as a leading preventable cause of death and prompted salt reduction programs in over 90 countries.
What are the main dietary risks linked to heart disease deaths?
The top three dietary risks are high sodium intake, low fruit consumption, and insufficient whole grain intake.
Why are total cardiovascular deaths rising despite better healthcare?
Although age-standardized death rates are declining due to medical advances, the total number of deaths is increasing because of aging populations and greater consumption of processed foods.
