BACKGROUND & AIMS: The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is rising in modern diets. However, the connection between UPF intake and biological aging still lacks research. This study aims to investigate the association between UPF consumption and biological aging and to explore the mediating effect of various adiposity measures.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study in 57,128 individuals included in the UK Biobank using 24-h dietary recall questionnaires. This research employed phenotypic age as biological age, with the age gap calculated as the difference between chronological and biological age. UPF was defined according to the NOVA classification. Linear regression models were employed to estimate the relationship between UPF consumption and biological aging. Mediation analysis was conducted to explore the mediating effect of various adiposity measures, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percentage, and waist-to-height ratio, in the observed associations.

RESULTS

Compared to the lowest quartile of UPF weight proportion consumption, the age gap increased by 0.378 years with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of (0.253, 0.504) for phenotypic age in the highest quartile in the cross-sectional study and 0.525 years (0.214, 0.836) in the longitudinal study. Higher UPF energy proportion consumption was associated with accelerated biological aging as well. Adiposity measures significantly mediated the association between UPF weight proportion and biological aging, with mediating proportions ranging from 25.80% to 36.76%.

CONCLUSION

Higher consumption of UPFs is positively associated with accelerated biological aging, with adiposity measures serving as significant mediators.