The association of ultra-processed food intake on age-related muscle conditions: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis with meta-regression
Hojjati Kermani MA, Awlqadr FH, Talebi S, Mehrabani S, Camera DM, Bagheri R, Poorbaferani F, Ghoreishy SM, Amirian P, Zarpoosh M, Moradi S
Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 6 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Meta-analysis (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
- Intake measured by
- Not stated
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2025-07-30 · J Health Popul Nutr · vol. 44 · issue 1 · p. 271
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Cited
- 6 citations · more than 83% of similar papers · 1.7× the field average
- References
- 137 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY-NC-ND
- Research areas
- Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Food composition and properties · Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Keywords
- Meta-analysis, Meta-regression, Medicine, Environmental health, Epidemiology, Regression analysis, Internal medicine, Statistics, Mathematics
- MeSH
- muscle, skeletal, humans, diet, aging, aged, female, male, muscle strength, sarcopenia, fast foods, frailty, food, processed
11 authors
From IR, IQ, AU
- Mohammad Ali Hojjati KermaniMasih Daneshvari Hospital; Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
- Farhang Hameed AwlqadrSulaimani Polytechnic University
- Sepide TalebiUniversity of Tehran
- Sanaz MehrabaniIsfahan University of Medical Sciences
- DONNY MICHAEL CAMERASwinburne University of Technology
- Reza BagheriUniversity of Isfahan
Abstract
Objectives
Chronic excessive intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has been linked to various metabolic conditions; however, its impact on skeletal muscle mass and function in older adults remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this study to examine the association between UPF intake and age-related muscle outcomes, including frailty, sarcopenia, low muscle mass (LMM), and/or low muscle strength (LMS).
Methods
A systematic search was conducted in ISI Web of Science, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus without restrictions up to November 1, 2024. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Study quality and the presence of publication bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, Egger's regression asymmetry test, and Begg's rank correlation test.
Results
Data from 29 studies were included. Cohort studies showed that higher UPF intake was significantly associated with an increased risk of frailty (RR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.25-1.58; I2 = 83.0%; p 2 = 0.0%; p 2 = 85.1%; p = 0.016; n = 5). Non-linear dose-response analysis showed a positive linear association between UPF intake and frailty risk (P_non-linearity = 0.807; P_dose-response < 0.001; n = 5).
Conclusion
Higher UPF intake was associated with an increased risk of frailty in cohort studies and with low muscle strength in cross-sectional studies. These findings suggest that regular consumption of UPFs may negatively affect muscle health, potentially impairing quality of life and independence in older adults.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY-NC-ND).
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