Consumption of ultra-processed products is associated with vitamin D deficiency in Brazilian adults and elderly
Br J Nutr. 2023 Dec 28;130(12):2198-2205. doi: 10.1017/S000711452300154X PDF is behind a paywall
Larisse Monteles Nascimento 1, Layanne Cristina de Carvalho Lavôr 1, Paulo Víctor de Lima Sousa 1, Liania Alves Luzia 2, Poliana Cristina de Almeida Fonseca Viola 1, Adriana de Azevedo Paiva 1, Patricia Helen de Carvalho Rondó 2, Karoline de Macedo Gonçalves Frota 1
Although studies show that the intake of ultra-processed products (UPP) has a negative impact on health, diet quality and dietary vitamin D, its influence on serum concentrations of this vitamin remains unknown; therefore, it is essential to verify the association between the UPP consumption and vitamin D deficiency. This is a cross-sectional, household, population-based study, carried out with 229 individuals aged 20 years or older, residents of the city of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. Socio-demographic, lifestyle, food consumption and anthropometric data were collected. Food consumption was obtained using a 24-h food recall, and foods were grouped according to the NOVA classification. Plasma concentrations of calcidiol-25 (OH) D3 were determined by HPLC. Crude and adjusted binary logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between UPP consumption and vitamin D deficiency. Most individuals aged 20-39 years were vitamin D deficient (52·1 %). UPP contributed 19·9 % to the energetic intake of the participant's diet. This contribution was higher for individuals with vitamin D deficiency (22·5 %, P = 0·04). In addition, a high intake of UPP was associated with twice the risk of vitamin D deficiency in comparison with low consumption of UPP (OR: 2·05; CI 1·06, 4·50; P: 0·04). Our results suggest that the consumption of UPP may have a negative impact on serum concentrations of vitamin D; more studies are needed.
Note: People consuming UPP who were Vitamin D deficient consumed more calories
4 of the many many possible pathways that could result in this observation
- People eating UPP have lower income, and cannot afford foods that have more vitamin D
- People eating UPP have inflammation, which consumes vitamin D
- People eating UPP end up having poor guts which reduces absorbing nutrients such as Vitamin D
- People eating UPP do not get outdoors as much