Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

This meta-analysis expands on previous reviews by synthesizing contemporary studies on the link between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and mental health disorders. It included 17 observational studies (n = 385,541), 15 cross-sectional and 2 prospective. The analysis found that higher UPF consumption was associated with increased odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Specifically, there was a 53% higher odds of common mental disorder symptoms, with separate odds ratios of 1.44 for depressive symptoms and 1.48 for anxiety symptoms. Additionally, the prospective studies showed that greater UPF intake was linked to a 22% higher risk of developing depression later. While these findings suggest an association between UPF consumption and mental health issues, further well-designed studies are needed to explore causal relationships.

Year: 2022

Reference: Lane, M. M., Gamage, E., Travica, N., Dissanayaka, T., Ashtree, D. N., Gauci, S., Lotfaliany, M., O'Neil, A., Jacka, F. N., & Marx, W. (2022). Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Nutrients, 14(13), 2568. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132568