Ultra-processed food consumption and human health: an umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses.
Janett BarbareskoJanine BröderJohanna ConradEdyta SchaeferAlexander LangSabrina SchlesingerPublished in: Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2024)
Recently, ultra-processed foods received a lot of attention, but also criticism. Our aim was to provide an overview of the existing evidence of ultra-processed food consumption on human health. We conducted a systematic search in four databases until January 5th, 2024. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses on ultra-processed food consumption as defined by the NOVA classification system were included. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by the GRADE approach. We identified 16 publications. Moderate certainty of evidence was found for all-cause mortality (Summary Risk Ratio per 50 g: 1.02; 95% confidence Interval (CI): 1.01, 1.03), cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality (per 50 g/d: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.06, and 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.08), type 2 diabetes incidence (per 10%: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.13) and colorectal cancer (per 10%: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07). For several outcomes such as inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, mental health as well as nutrient quality, similar estimates were observed, but certainty of evidence was limited. Discussing the NOVA concept, it remains unclear whether the processing of foods leads to increased health risks or if ultra-processed food consumption is only a measure for poor diet quality.
Keyphrases
- human health
- meta analyses
- risk assessment
- systematic review
- type diabetes
- metabolic syndrome
- climate change
- cardiovascular disease
- high resolution
- mental health
- randomized controlled trial
- risk factors
- insulin resistance
- weight loss
- working memory
- machine learning
- physical activity
- cardiovascular events
- adipose tissue
- cardiovascular risk factors
- body mass index
- high intensity
- liver fibrosis
- big data
- glycemic control
- mental illness