Nutrients, Vol. 18, Pages 1186: The Influence of Ultra-Processed Foods on Inflammation and Metabolic Health in Pediatric Obesity: A Systematic Review with a Narrative Synthesis
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu18081186
Authors:
Debora Porri
Malgorzata Wasniewska
Alessandra Li Pomi
Elisa La Rosa
Giovanni Luppino
Aurora Lanzafame
Cecilia Lugarà
Roberto Coco
Francesca Franchina
Tiziana Abbate
Carla Fazio
Valentina La Malfa
Letteria Anna Morabito
Giorgia Pepe
Mariella Valenzise
Maria Francesca Messina
Domenico Corica
Tommaso Aversa
The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has been accompanied by an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), characterized by high energy density and low nutritional quality. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns rich in UPF may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation and early metabolic dysfunction in children and adolescents. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and markers of inflammation and metabolic health in pediatric populations. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Observational and interventional studies evaluating UPF intake or diet-related inflammatory potential in children and adolescents (≤18 years) were included. Outcomes of interest included inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α) and metabolic parameters (e.g., insulin resistance, lipid profile, glucose metabolism). Results: A limited number of studies have directly assessed UPF consumption using the NOVA classification. Overall, these studies suggest a potential association between increased UPF intake and adverse metabolic outcomes, although findings on inflammatory markers remain inconsistent. A larger body of indirect evidence, including studies assessing dietary inflammatory indices and related dietary patterns, consistently supports a link between pro-inflammatory diets and increased inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in pediatric populations. Conclusions: Although direct evidence on UPF consumption remains limited, the available findings, supported by complementary indirect evidence, suggest a plausible relationship between UPF-rich diets, inflammation, and metabolic health in children and adolescents. Further well-designed studies are needed to clarify causality and improve the standardization of dietary assessment methods.
The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has been accompanied by an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), characterized by high energy density and low nutritional quality. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns rich in UPF may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation and early metabolic dysfunction in children and adolescents. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and markers of inflammation and metabolic health in pediatric populations. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Observational and interventional studies evaluating UPF intake or diet-related inflammatory potential in children and adolescents (≤18 years) were included. Outcomes of interest included inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α) and metabolic parameters (e.g., insulin resistance, lipid profile, glucose metabolism). Results: A limited number of studies have directly assessed UPF consumption using the NOVA classification. Overall, these studies suggest a potential association between increased UPF intake and adverse metabolic outcomes, although findings on inflammatory markers remain inconsistent. A larger body of indirect evidence, including studies assessing dietary inflammatory indices and related dietary patterns, consistently supports a link between pro-inflammatory diets and increased inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in pediatric populations. Conclusions: Although direct evidence on UPF consumption remains limited, the available findings, supported by complementary indirect evidence, suggest a plausible relationship between UPF-rich diets, inflammation, and metabolic health in children and adolescents. Further well-designed studies are needed to clarify causality and improve the standardization of dietary assessment methods. Read More