Ultra-processed foods: Implications for gastrointestinal health

Abstract

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are believed to contribute to the development of multiple chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases and metabolic syndrome, based on epidemiological studies and emerging preclinical and clinical research. Several aspects of food processing and formulation in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases are currently being studied. Ongoing research emphasizes epidemiological evidence and mechanistic insights regarding UPFs and their interaction with the intestinal microbiota. In this review, we explore UPFs, their interaction with the intestinal microbiota, and the implications for gastrointestinal health.

Keywords: Cancer; Gastrointestinal health; Inflammatory bowel disease; Intestinal microbiota; Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease; Ultra-processed foods.