TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultra‐Processed Food Consumption and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies
AU - Lane, Melissa M.
AU - Gamage, Elizabeth
AU - Travica, Nikolaj
AU - Dissanayaka, Thusharika
AU - Ashtree, Deborah N.
AU - Gauci, Sarah
AU - Lotfaliany, Mojtaba
AU - O’neil, Adrienne
AU - Jacka, Felice N.
AU - Marx, Wolfgang
N1 - Funding Information:
from Sanofi‐Synthelabo, Janssen Cilag, Servier, Pfizer, Health Ed, Network Nutrition, Angelini Farmaceutica, Eli Lilly and Metagenics. FNJ has written two books for commercial publication and has a personal belief that good diet quality is important for mental and brain health. WM is currently funded by an NHMRC Investigator Grant (#2008971) and a Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia early‐career fellowship. WM has previously received funding from the Cancer Council Queensland and university grants/fellowships from La Trobe University, Deakin University, University of Queensland, and Bond University. WM has received industry funding and/or has attended events funded by Cobram Estate Pty. Ltd. and Bega Dairy and Drinks Pty Ltd. WM has received travel funding from Nutrition Society of Australia. WM has received consultancy funding from Nutrition Research Australia and ParachuteBH. WM has received speakers honoraria from The Cancer Council Queensland and the Princess Alexandra Research Foundation.
Funding Information:
Conflicts of Interest: The Food & Mood Centre has received Grant/Research support from Fernwood Foundation, Wilson Foundation, the A2 Milk Company, and Be Fit Foods. MML is supported by a Deakin University Scholarship and has received research funding support from Be Fit Foods. EG is supported by a Deakin University Scholarship. NT is funded by an Executive Dean of Health Research Fellowship, Deakin University. TDD has received funding support from Bega Dairy and Drinks Pty Ltd. DNA is supported by funds from an NHMRC Emerging Leader 2 Fellowship (2009295). SG is funded by a NHMRC Synergy Grant (APP1182301). ML is funded by an Executive Dean of Health Research Fellowship, Deakin University. AO is supported by an NHMRC Emerging Leader 2 Fellowship (2009295). She has received research funding from National Health & Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, University of Melbourne, Deakin University, Sanofi, Meat and Livestock Australia and Woolworths Limited and Honoraria from Novartis. FNJ has received Grant/Research support from the Brain and Behaviour Research Institute, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Rotary Health, the Geelong Medical Research Foundation, the Ian Potter Foundation, Eli Lilly, Meat and Livestock Australia, Woolworths Limited, the Fernwood Foundation, Wilson Foundation, the A2 Milk Company, Be Fit Foods, and The University of Melbourne, and has received speakers honoraria
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/7/1
Y1 - 2022/7/1
N2 - Since previous meta‐analyses, which were limited only to depression and by a small number of studies available for inclusion at the time of publication, several additional studies have been published assessing the link between ultra‐processed food consumption and depression as well as other mental disorders. We aimed to build on previously conducted reviews to synthesise and meta‐analyse the contemporary evidence base and clarify the associations between the consumption of ultra‐processed food and mental disorders. A total of 17 observational studies were included (n = 385,541); 15 cross‐sectional and 2 prospective. Greater ultra‐processed food consumption was cross‐sectionally associated with increased odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms, both when these outcomes were assessed together (common mental disorder symptoms odds ratio: 1.53, 95%CI 1.43 to 1.63) as well as separately (depressive symptoms odds ratio: 1.44, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.82; and, anxiety symptoms odds ratio: 1.48, 95%CI 1.37 to 1.59). Furthermore, a meta‐analysis of prospective studies demonstrated that greater ultra‐processed food intake was associated with increased risk of subsequent depression (hazard ratio: 1.22, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.28). While we found evidence for associations between ultra‐processed food consumption and adverse mental health, further rigorously designed prospective and experimental studies are needed to better understand causal pathways.
AB - Since previous meta‐analyses, which were limited only to depression and by a small number of studies available for inclusion at the time of publication, several additional studies have been published assessing the link between ultra‐processed food consumption and depression as well as other mental disorders. We aimed to build on previously conducted reviews to synthesise and meta‐analyse the contemporary evidence base and clarify the associations between the consumption of ultra‐processed food and mental disorders. A total of 17 observational studies were included (n = 385,541); 15 cross‐sectional and 2 prospective. Greater ultra‐processed food consumption was cross‐sectionally associated with increased odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms, both when these outcomes were assessed together (common mental disorder symptoms odds ratio: 1.53, 95%CI 1.43 to 1.63) as well as separately (depressive symptoms odds ratio: 1.44, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.82; and, anxiety symptoms odds ratio: 1.48, 95%CI 1.37 to 1.59). Furthermore, a meta‐analysis of prospective studies demonstrated that greater ultra‐processed food intake was associated with increased risk of subsequent depression (hazard ratio: 1.22, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.28). While we found evidence for associations between ultra‐processed food consumption and adverse mental health, further rigorously designed prospective and experimental studies are needed to better understand causal pathways.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132266532&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu14132568
DO - 10.3390/nu14132568
M3 - Review article
C2 - 35807749
AN - SCOPUS:85132266532
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 14
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 13
M1 - 2568
ER -
