Background The association between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and markers of biological ageing has been scarcely investigated, despite the evident adverse health effects associated with UPF. This study aimed to test the association between UPF intake and biological ageing, and evaluate how much of this association is accounted for by overall diet quality. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed 16 055 participants aged 20–79 years (51% women, 46 ± 0.3 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2010. Dietary UPF intake was assessed using the Nova system. Values were expressed as % of total energy intake and were denominated as a continuous variable and in quintiles. Diet quality was assessed with the American Heart Association 2020 and the Healthy Eating Index 2015. Biological ageing was assessed using the PhenoAge algorithm. Results For each 10% of energy intake accounted for by UPF, participants were 0.21 (95%CI 0.16–0.26) years biologically older in terms of PhenoAge. As compared to participants in the lowest UPF quintile (≤39%), those in the highest UPF quintile (68–100%) were 0.86 (95% CI 0.55, 1.16) years older (P-for-trend across quintiles ≤0.001). Adherence to a healthy diet moderately attenuated the relationship between UPF and PhenoAge (adjusted β = 0.14 per 10% increment of UPF). Conclusions Adults with higher UPF tended to be biologically older. This association is partly independent of diet quality, suggesting that food processing may contribute to biological ageing acceleration. Our findings point to a compelling reason to target UPF consumption to promote healthier ageing.

中文翻译：

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美国成年人超加工食品摄入量与生物衰老之间的关联：2003-2010 年全国健康和营养检查调查 （NHANES） 的结果


背景 尽管 UPF 对健康有明显的不利影响，但超加工食品 （UPF） 摄入量与生物衰老标志物之间的关联几乎没有得到研究。本研究旨在测试 UPF 摄入量与生物衰老之间的关联，并评估整体饮食质量在多大程度上解释了这种关联。方法 这项横断面研究评估了 16 055 名年龄在 20-79 岁之间的参与者（51% 为女性，46 ± 0.3 岁），来自 2003-2010 年全国健康和营养检查调查 （NHANES）。使用 Nova 系统评估膳食 UPF 摄入量。值表示为总能量摄入的百分比，并以连续变量和五分位数表示。根据 2020 年美国心脏协会和 2015 年健康饮食指数评估饮食质量。使用 PhenoAge 算法评估生物衰老。结果对于 UPF 每占 10% 的能量摄入，参与者在 PhenoAge 方面的生物学年龄大 0.21 （95% CI 0.16-0.26） 岁。与 UPF 最低五分位数 （≤39%） 的参与者相比，最高 UPF 五分位数 （68-100%） 的参与者年龄大 0.86 （95% CI 0.55， 1.16） 岁 （五分位数的趋势 P ≤0.001）。坚持健康饮食适度减弱了 UPF 和 PhenoAge 之间的关系（调整后的 β = 0.14 UPF 每增加 10%）。结论 UPF 较高的成年人往往在生物学上年龄较大。这种关联部分独立于饮食质量，表明食品加工可能导致生物衰老加速。我们的研究结果表明，有充分的理由以 UPF 消费为目标，以促进更健康的老龄化。