Intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with inflammatory markers in Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association of the consumption of foods of the ultra-processed group (UPF) with inflammatory markers in the adolescent population in Northeastern Brazil. Design: A cross-sectional population-based study. Food consumption was evaluated using two 24-h dietary recalls using the NOVA classification for food processing levels. The following inflammatory markers were evaluated: adiponectin, IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein (CRP) and TNF-α. Multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the association between the percentage of UPF energy contribution and inflammatory markers. Setting: São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Participants: The sample consisted of 391 male and female adolescents, aged from 17 to 18 years. Results: The average daily energy consumption by adolescents was 8032·9 kJ/d, of which 26·1 % originated from UPF. The upper tertile (T3) of UPF consumption presented higher intake of simple carbohydrates, lipids, saturated fat, and Na and lower protein intake. Individuals in T3 presented higher serum leptin and CRP levels (P < 0·05). Adolescents with UPF energy consumption ≥30·0 % (tertile 3 of UPF) had a 79 % (exp (0·58) = 1·79) increase in IL-8 levels when compared with adolescents in tertile 1 of UPF (P = 0·013). Conclusions: The association between the consumption of UPF, poor quality diet and pro-inflammatory markers have important harmful effects that can be observed as early as in adolescence.

Low-Grade Inflammation and Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption: A Review

“…Similarly, in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, the association between high UPF consumption and CRP levels remained significant only in men, after adjustment for BMI [ 55 ]. In adolescents, Martins et al found that subjects consuming more UPF in their diet had higher CRP and IL-8 values, but the association was significant only for IL-8 [ 56 ]. Other biomarkers studied to a lesser extent are some proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6.…”

A 7-Week Summer Camp in Antarctica Induces Fluctuations on Human Oral Microbiome, Pro-Inflammatory Markers and Metabolic Hormones Profile

“…Although IL-8 did not show a specific correlation with any bacterial phyla, leptin promotes the expression of IL-8 [ 62 ]. Furthermore, it is plausible to consider that leptin and IL-8 reflected inflammation derived from meals [ 66 , 67 ]. Specifically, the intake of ultra-processed foods in camp, rich in simple carbohydrates and saturated fats, may have stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species and consequent increase of leptin and IL-8 levels [ 58 ], modulating the inflammatory response.…”

Joint association of food nutritional profile by Nutri-Score front-of-pack label and ultra-processed food intake with mortality: Moli-sani prospective cohort study

“…Evidence on the potential effect of the overall diet quality on biomarkers of renal function, a well established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is not robust, with only a few cohort studies supporting an association 4041. However, diets high in ultra-processed foods have been increasingly shown to be associated with altered renal function and higher inflammation,7424344 possibly through mechanisms that are triggered by non-nutritional components of the diet, such as food additives and contaminants present in highly processed foods, as well as food processing itself that affects both nutritional composition and the food matrix 45. For instance, the packaging of ultra-processed foods is a major source of synthetic chemicals, such as phthalates and bisphenols, that are among the so-called endocrine disrupting chemicals,46 which could have adverse effects on renal function and might contribute to progressive cumulative renal injury over a lifetime and are also associated with altered concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers 474849.…”