Metabolomic signature of ultraprocessed food consumption and microvascular complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes
Li Y, Song X, Xue D, Lai Y, Zhang YB, Xia PF, Chen JX, Liu G, Pan A, Liao YF, Geng T
NPJ science of food · 2 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Clinical events such as disease or death
- Intake measured by
- Not stated
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Government
- National Science and Technology Major Project
- Government
- Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project
- Grants
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (82325043); National Natural Science Foundation of China (82 021 005); National Natural Science Foundation of China (82325043 and 82021005)
Based on 3 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2025-11-17 · NPJ Sci Food · vol. 9 · issue 1 · p. 233
- Publisher
- Nature Portfolio
- Cited
- 3 citations · more than 91% of similar papers · 2.7× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 54 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY-NC-ND
- Research areas
- Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- Keywords
- Metabolomics, Type 2 diabetes, Metabolite, Diabetes mellitus, Prospective cohort study, Cohort
11 authors
From CN, US
- Yue LiHuazhong University of Science and Technology
- Xingyue SongHainan Medical University
- Dan XueHuazhong University of Science and Technology
- Yuwei LaiHuazhong University of Science and Technology
- Yanbo ZhangAlbert Einstein College of Medicine; Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Peng‐Fei XiaHuazhong University of Science and Technology
Abstract
Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been associated with higher risks of diabetic microvascular complications. However, whether a metabolite profile related to UPF consumption reflects these associations was unknown. Using data from the UK Biobank (a prospective cohort study), a metabolomic signature comprising 14 metabolites was derived and robustly correlated with UPF consumption. Compared with UPF consumption, its corresponding metabolomic signature was also associated with higher risks of composite microvascular complications and diabetic kidney disease, with an additionally identified significant association with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic neuropathy. The above associations between the metabolomic signature and diabetic microvascular complications remained significant after further adjustment for UPF consumption. Three metabolites from lipid components of VLDL and HDL, MUFA, albumin, and glycoprotein acetyls mediated the association between UPF intake and composite microvascular complications. These findings suggest that the metabolomic signature has the potential to stratify individuals with different dietary responses to UPFs and facilitate personalized nutrition for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY-NC-ND).
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