COLANSA E-Library
Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses
Authors: Melissa M Lane, Elizabeth Gamage, Shutong Du, Deborah N Ashtree, Amelia J McGuinness, Sarah Gauci, Phillip Baker, Mark Lawrence, Casey M Rebholz, Bernard Srour, Mathilde Touvier, Felice N Jacka, Adrienne O’Neil, Toby Segasby, Wolfgang Marx
February 2024 – Evaluation of Evidence on Exposure to Ultra-Processed Foods and Specific Health Outcomes. An umbrella review of existing observational epidemiological research (14 meta-analyses, 45 pooled analyses, and a total population of 9,888,373) covering seven health parameters related to mortality, cancer, and mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic health outcomes. The study reports an increased risk of adverse health outcomes associated with exposure to ultra-processed foods. The strongest available evidence indicates direct associations between higher exposure to ultra-processed foods and increased risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease-related mortality, common mental disorders, overweight and obesity, and type 2 diabetes. All meta-analysis studies are recent (within the last three years) and are not funded by ultra-processed food companies. Ultra-processed foods, as defined by the Nova food classification system, have poor nutrient profiles (e.g., higher energy, salt, sugar, and saturated fats, with lower levels of dietary fiber, micronutrients, and vitamins). The findings highlight the urgency of population-wide strategies and mechanistic studies to address this public health issue.
