CONSUMPTION OF ULTRA-PROCESSED PRODUCTS IS ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN BRAZILIAN ADULTS AND ELDERLY.

Although studies show that the intake of ultra-processed products (UPP) has a negative impact on health, diet quality and dietary vitamin D, its influence on serum concentrations of this vitamin remains unknown, therefore it is essential to verify the association between the UPP consumption and vitamin D deficiency. This is a cross-sectional, household, population-based study, carried out with 229 individuals aged 20 years or older, residents of the city of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, food consumption and anthropometric data were collected. Food consumption was obtained using a 24-hour food recall, and foods were grouped according to the NOVA classification. Plasma concentrations of calcidiol - 25 (OH) D3 were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Crude and adjusted binary logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between UPP consumption and vitamin D deficiency. Most individuals aged 20 to 39 years were vitamin D deficient (52, 1%). Ultra-processed products contributed 19.9% to the caloric intake of the participant's diet. This contribution was higher for individuals with vitamin D deficiency (22.5%, p=0,04). In addition, a high intake of UPP was associated with twice the risk of vitamin D deficiency in comparison to low consumption of UPP (OR: 2.05; CI: 1.06-4.50; p: 0.04). Our restults suggest that the consumption of UPP may have a negative impact on serum concentrations of vitamin D, more studies are needed.