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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 global consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), alongside the persistent prevalence of mental health disorders, has become a major concern in public health. Yuan et al. (2025) highlight that recent works postulate how diets high in UPFs may play a role in the incidence of mental illnesses. This study aimed to explore the relationship between metabolic markers linked to UPF consumption and mental health conditions. Using data from 30,059 UK Biobank participants, researchers identified a specific blood-based metabolic profile associated with UPF intake through nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics. They then used statistical models to examine how both UPF intake and the related metabolic signature were linked to new cases of mental disorders and various psychological symptoms. The analysis revealed that greater consumption of UPFs significantly increased the risk of developing mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, as well as symptoms like suicidal thoughts and persistent feelings of anxiety. The metabolic markers associated with UPFs also showed independent connections to these outcomes and explained part of the relationship between UPF intake and mental disorders. These results emphasize the potential role of metabolic mechanisms in the connection between poor diet and mental health issues, highlighting the importance of improving dietary habits to support psychological well-being. [NPID: dietary factors, ultra-processed foods, metabolomic, mental disorder, psychological symptoms, mediation analysis]
Year: 2025
