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

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2022-03, Vol.25 (3), p.591-599
• Main Authors: Martins, Glauciane Márcia dos Santos, França, Ana Karina Teixeira da Cunha, Viola, Poliana Cristina de Almeida Fonseca, Carvalho, Carolina Abreu de, Marques, Karla Danielle Silva, Santos, Alcione Miranda dos, Batalha, Mônica Araújo, Alves, Janete Daniel de Alencar, Ribeiro, Cecilia Claudia Costa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adiponectin; Adolescent; Adolescents; Brazil; C-reactive protein; Carbohydrates; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Energy consumption; Energy Intake; Evaluation; Fast Foods; Female; Food; Food consumption; Food Handling; Food intake; Food processing; Households; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Leptin; Lipids; Male; Markers; Nutrition research; Nutritional Status and Body Composition; Nutritionists; Oils & fats; Population studies; Processed foods; Proteins; Public schools; Questionnaires; Research Paper; Secondary schools; Software; Students; Teenagers; Trans fats; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Urban areas
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980021004523

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. 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. São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The sample consisted of 391 male and female adolescents, aged from 17 to 18 years. 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). 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.