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Associations of ultra-processed food intake and its circulating metabolomic signature with mental disorders in middle-aged and older adults
The increasing prevalence of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption coincides with rising rates of mental health issues, prompting urgent public health discussions. Recent studies indicate that poor dietary choices, particularly those involving high UPF consumption, may play a role in the onset of mental disorders.
A comprehensive cohort study involving 30,059 participants from the UK Biobank aimed to investigate these associations. Researchers utilized nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics to establish a plasma metabolic signature correlated with UPF intake. To evaluate the relationship of UPF consumption and its metabolic signatures with mental health outcomes, they employed Cox and logistic regression analyses.
The results were significant: increased UPF consumption correlated with heightened risks for various mental disorders. Specifically, the hazard ratios for overall mental disorders were reported as 1.04 (95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.06) per 10% increase in UPF intake. Furthermore, the risks for depressive disorders stood at 1.14 (1.08, 1.20), anxiety disorders at 1.12 (1.06, 1.18), and substance use disorders at 1.06 (1.01, 1.11). Psychological symptoms also presented elevated odds, with suicidal ideation showing an odds ratio of 1.12 (1.03, 1.16) and feelings of anxiety at 1.05 (1.01, 1.09).
Moreover, the metabolic signature associated with UPF intake was independently linked to increased risks of these mental health outcomes, suggesting it may partially mediate the relationship between UPF consumption and the emergence of mental disorders. This evidence underscores the importance of dietary quality for mental health and suggests that metabolic pathways may illuminate the neuropsychiatric risks associated with UPF intake. [NPID: Ultraprocessed, mental disorders, suicidal ideation, substance use disorders, neuropsychiatric risk]
Year: 2026
