Nutrition transition and hypertension in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review.

BackgroundThe nutrition transition in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is shifting from traditional diets to Westernized patterns high in ultra-processed foods, coinciding with a growing hypertension epidemic. A synthesis of region-specific evidence is needed to inform culturally appropriate public health strategies.AimThis systematic review evaluates evidence from 2017 to 2025 on the association between dietary patterns and hypertension in LAC adults, analyzing socioecological determinants within the nutrition transition framework.MethodsFollowing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, and other databases for observational and intervention studies in LAC. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction, and quality assessment using NIH and Cochrane tools. A narrative synthesis was conducted due to heterogeneity.SummaryTwelve studies were included. Traditional diets were associated with lower blood pressure (beta: -1.85 mmHg) and reduced hypertension prevalence (prevalence ratio (PR): 0.57), while Westernized diets and ultra-processed foods increased risk (beta: +2.09 mmHg; risk ratio: 1.35). Food insecurity was linked to 39% higher uncontrolled hypertension prevalence (PR: 1.39), while higher education was protective (odds ratio: 0.66). One randomized controlled trial showed a culturally tailored nutrition intervention improved dietary quality. The nutrition transition drives hypertension in LAC. Effective mitigation requires dual strategies: structural policies regulating ultra-processed foods and promoting healthy food environments, alongside culturally adapted interventions addressing socioecological barriers.