Ultra-processed foods, biological ageing, and all-cause mortality risk: a prospective cohort study using 172,225 participants from UK Biobank.

ABSTRACT: Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are increasingly linked to negative health outcomes, including chronic diseases and mortality. Recent evidence suggests that UPF may accelerate biological ageing, potentially explaining their harmful effects. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate associations between UPF intake categories and mortality risk, examining biological ageing's mediating and modifying effects. We used a prospective cohort design including 172,225 participants in the UK Biobank who completed 24-h dietary recall questionnaires. UPF were classified according to the NOVA system. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluated associations between UPF intake and both all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Biological ageing was assessed using PhenoAge acceleration, with the

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12634997 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature