Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Abstract

Since previous meta-analyses, which were limited only to depression and by a small number of studies available for inclusion at the time of publication, several additional studies have been published assessing the link between ultra-processed food consumption and depression as well as other mental disorders. We aimed to build on previously conducted reviews to synthesise and meta-analyse the contemporary evidence base and clarify the associations between the consumption of ultra-processed food and mental disorders. A total of 17 observational studies were included (n = 385,541); 15 cross-sectional and 2 prospective. Greater ultra-processed food consumption was cross-sectionally associated with increased odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms, both when these outcomes were assessed together (common mental disorder symptoms odds ratio: 1.53, 95%CI 1.43 to 1.63) as well as separately (depressive symptoms odds ratio: 1.44, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.82; and, anxiety symptoms odds ratio: 1.48, 95%CI 1.37 to 1.59). Furthermore, a meta-analysis of prospective studies demonstrated that greater ultra-processed food intake was associated with increased risk of subsequent depression (hazard ratio: 1.22, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.28). While we found evidence for associations between ultra-processed food consumption and adverse mental health, further rigorously designed prospective and experimental studies are needed to better understand causal pathways.

GroceryDB: Prevalence of Processed Food in Grocery Stores

“…A sheer number of peer-review articles have been published on the topic of ultraprocessing, embodying a general degree of consensus among independent academic researchers on the health relevance of ultra-processed food [57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68]. However, a precise definition for ultra-processed food, informing effective reformulation strategies, has yet to be achieved [26].…”

Why do you eat? - Establishing Individual consumption motives and their stability across eating situations

“…The consumption of ultra-processed foods, which are usually high in calories, sugar, trans fats and salt, has been connected to faster cognitive decline in later life (Weinstein et al, 2022), as well as to mood disorders (Lane et al, 2022). In contrast, a high quality diet may help to protect people from cognitive decline (Smyth et al, 2015).…”

Identifying Future Study Designs for Mental Health and Social Wellbeing Associated with Diets of a Cohort Living in Eco-Regions: Findings from the INSUM Expert Workshop

“…This emerging field has provided multiple lines of evidence that indicates that diet quality is an important lifestyle factor in the management and prevention of depression [65]. Meta-analyses of several prospective and cross-sectional observational studies have reported that improved diet quality is associated with a reduced risk of depression [66,67]. This association appears to be consistent across multiple datasets, throughout the lifespan, and is apparent using multiple diet quality indices [66][67][68].…”

“…Meta-analyses of several prospective and cross-sectional observational studies have reported that improved diet quality is associated with a reduced risk of depression [66,67]. This association appears to be consistent across multiple datasets, throughout the lifespan, and is apparent using multiple diet quality indices [66][67][68]. Furthermore, mechanistic studies have identified multiple pathways whereby diet may modulate depression pathophysiology with much of the recent research focusing on the role of diet in the modulation of the gut microbiota-brain axis [69,70].…”