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Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are highly manufactured food products often loaded with additives, fat, sugar, sodium, and calories. Research suggests they may do more than contribute to excess calories, potentially reducing protective fatty acids and increasing metabolic stress.
The effects of UPFs may go beyond the fat they contain. The findings suggest that these foods may shift the body’s lipid profile in unhealthy ways, reducing beneficial fats that help maintain cell membranes and support communication between cells. At the same time, heavy consumption may stimulate cholesterol production and interfere with normal fat metabolism. They can cause the body to turn excess carbohydrates into lipid compounds that may signal problems with mitochondrial function and the body’s ability to break down fatty acids.
Researchers aimed to identify a distinct metabolic profile associated with higher UPF intake, rather than focusing on individual diseases. Understanding this metabolic signature may shed light on the biological mechanisms through which UPFs affect health.
The study analyzed data from 15,200 people in the EPIC cohort to identify molecular signatures that could help explain how UPF consumption may affect health. Participants came from 10 European countries and ranged in age from 35 to 70, with women accounting for about two-thirds of the group. They completed detailed lifestyle and dietary questionnaires covering the previous year, while a randomly selected subset provided 24-hour dietary recalls. Blood samples and body measurements were also collected for analysis.
Participants with higher UPF intake showed a distinct pattern of changes in their blood lipids. They had more lipid derivatives linked to impaired fat burning and mitochondrial dysfunction, along with lower levels of fats needed to maintain healthy cell membranes and support cell signaling. The findings suggest that UPFs may encourage the production of compounds such as cholesterol while interfering with the body’s normal processing of fats.
The study strengthens the biological evidence connecting ultra-processed food consumption with adverse health outcomes.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Circulating metabolites and fatty acids associated with ultra-processed food consumption: results from the EPIC study
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