A recent American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study has found that consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods accelerates biological aging. This leads to potential chronic diseases and a shorter lifespan.
The study states that biological aging, which reflects overall health rather than chronological age, is strongly influenced by lifestyle factors such as diet.
While the low nutritional content of ultra-processed foods is known to contribute to biological aging, the researchers argue that this accounts for only part of the problem. They emphasize that the non-nutritional characteristics of ultra-processed foods, such as additives and industrial processing methods, may also play a significant role in accelerating aging.
The research team analyzed data from a large population-based study conducted in Southern Italy between 2005 and 2010. Participants’ diets were assessed using a questionnaire that included 188 food items. The quality of their diets was measured using a Mediterranean diet score ranging from 0 to 9.
To estimate biological age, the researchers applied a machine-learning model that evaluated 36 blood biomarkers, including triglycerides, cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP).
The final sample comprised 11,726 women and 10,769 men, with an average age of 54.9 years. On average, ultra-processed foods accounted for 10.7% of the participants’ diets by weight and 18.2% of their total caloric intake.
The study found that individuals consuming the most ultra-processed foods were generally younger, more educated, less physically active, and more likely to live in urban areas. They also tended to be free from chronic diseases. However, the researchers cautioned that this does not imply that consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods is healthy.
The researchers stressed that as people age and encounter health issues, they should consider adopting healthier lifestyles and reducing their consumption of ultra-processed foods.
After adjusting for various factors, the study revealed that individuals in the group consuming the most ultra-processed foods had an average biological age approximately 0.34 years older than those in the group consuming the least. This group also experienced faster biological aging. The researchers concluded that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods accelerates biological aging.
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