Linking Dietary Quality and Overall Health: The Role of Ultra-Processed Foods in Adult Chronic Diseases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3309Keywords:
Ultra-processed foods, diet, chronic disease, inflammationAbstract
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and cancer are among the leading causes of mortality in the world, according to the CDC. While many different factors participate in development and progression of these diseases, increasing evidence suggests diet, especially diet high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs), is a major contributor to the development of these chronic diseases. This review synthesizes findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses, and large-scale cohort studies to evaluate the association between UPF consumption, chronic inflammation, and the prevalence of disease in adult and adolescent populations. Inflammation acts as a common-ground which links UPFs to chronic diseases; elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin- 6 (IL-6) are found in individuals with a higher UPF intake, and are also commonly associated with increased risks of CVD, T2D, and other chronic-disease related complications. In contrast, diets with a lower UPF consumption, such as the Mediterranean Diet (MD), have been found to have lower levels of CRP and IL-6, as well as being associated with lower rates of chronic disease.
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