Ultra-Processed Foods and Markers of Systemic Inflammation in Children.

ABSTRACT: Diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPF) have been associated with negative health outcomes in adults; however, UPF's impact on children's health and their underlying mechanisms remain underexplored, despite the rising prevalence of their intake in younger populations. We aimed to investigate the association between UPF intake and systemic inflammation in primary school children. This study included 450 children aged 7-10 years participating in a birth cohort in Arica, Chile (2023). Using the NOVA food classification system, we calculated the intake of UPF (expressed in %kcal) from a 44-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The associations between UPF intake (exposure) and an array of cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL1β, TNF-α) were assessed using multiple linear regressio

SUBMITTER: Awad C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12401134 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature