Jiang Chenyu, Zhu Luqi, Teng Xiaosheng, Wen Hongxun, Yu Zhenjun, Yang Weiwei, Shao Yaojian
Department of Geriatric, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, Zhejiang, China.
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China.
Front Nutr. 2025 Jun 23;12:1589805. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1589805. eCollection 2025.
The extent of food processing significantly impacts human health, with ultra-processed foods (UPFs) linked to numerous adverse health outcomes. In contrast, research on unprocessed or minimally processed foods (MPFs) and their association with gallstones remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between MPF intake and gallstones in U.S. adults.
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2017-2023). MPF intake was assessed according to the NOVA classification system. Survey-weighted logistic regression, restricted cubic spline models, and mediation analyses were employed to evaluate the association between MPF consumption and gallstones disease.
Among 11,779 U.S. adults, 1,303 cases of gallstones disease were identified (weighted prevalence: 9.8%). Elevated percentage contribution of MPF was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of gallstones [model 1, odds ratio (OR): 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-0.78], and this inverse relationship persisted after full adjustment (model 3; OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.09-0.84). Compared to the lowest quartile (Q1), the highest quartile (Q4) of MPF consumption showed significantly lower odds of gallstones (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53-0.98). A non-linear, inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between MPF intake and gallstones (overall < 0.001; non-linear = 0.031). Mediation analysis indicated that the body mass index (BMI) partially mediated this association. No significant associations were found between other NOVA food groups, including UPF, and gallstones disease.
Higher MPF consumption is associated with a lower risk of gallstones disease, with BMI partially mediating this relationship.
食品加工的程度对人类健康有重大影响，超加工食品（UPF）与众多不良健康后果相关。相比之下，关于未加工或最低限度加工食品（MPF）及其与胆结石的关联的研究仍然很少。本研究旨在调查美国成年人MPF摄入量与胆结石之间的关系。
我们使用来自国家健康与营养检查调查（NHANES，2017 - 2023）的数据进行了横断面分析。根据NOVA分类系统评估MPF摄入量。采用调查加权逻辑回归、受限立方样条模型和中介分析来评估MPF消费与胆结石疾病之间的关联。
在11779名美国成年人中，确诊了1303例胆结石疾病（加权患病率：9.8%）。MPF贡献百分比的升高与胆结石发生可能性降低显著相关[模型1，比值比（OR）：0.40，95%置信区间（CI）：0.21 - 0.78]，并且在完全调整后这种反向关系仍然存在（模型3；OR：0.28，95% CI：0.09 - 0.84）。与最低四分位数（Q1）相比，MPF消费的最高四分位数（Q4）显示胆结石的几率显著更低（OR：0.72，95% CI：0.53 - 0.98）。在MPF摄入量与胆结石之间观察到非线性、倒U形关系（总体<0.001；非线性=0.031）。中介分析表明体重指数（BMI）部分介导了这种关联。在包括UPF在内的其他NOVA食物组与胆结石疾病之间未发现显著关联。
较高的MPF消费量与较低的胆结石疾病风险相关，BMI部分介导了这种关系。
