Ultra-processed food

Intervention5 papers7 findings

Outcomes

Time to natural menopause

no changein humans1HR 1.024Low certainty

1 study

Ultra-processed food has no effect on time to natural menopause in humans (HR 1.024; 95% CI 0.977, 1.073).
Humansadjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and reproductive factorsfemalesn = 1,972
Dietary exposures and age at natural menopause: Evidence from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging · Maturitas · 26 Aug 2026

AgeAccel

upin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Ultra-processed food is associated with AgeAccel in humans (+1.41-year difference).
Humanscolorectum
Intake of ultra-processed foods and accelerated epigenetic aging of colorectal tissues · JNCI cancer spectrum · 3 Sep 2026

Chronic kidney disease

upin humans1HR 1.26Low certainty

1 study

Ultra-processed food raises the risk of chronic kidney disease in humans (HR 1.26; 95% CI 1.08, 1.47).
Humanshighest tertile vs lowest tertilemedian 6.8 yearsn = 2,661
Associations of Plant- and Animal-Sourced Ultra-Processed Foods and Incident CKD in the Cardiovascular Health Study · Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN · 2 Sep 2026

Knee osteoarthritis

upin humans1+29% higher knee oa riskLow certainty

1 study

Ultra-processed food raises the risk of knee osteoarthritis in humans (28.8% higher knee OA risk).
Humanstop UPF quartile compared with lowest quartilefemalesn = 13,122
Ultra-Processed Food Intake, Circulating NMR Metabolomic Signatures and Risk of Osteoarthritis in Women · International journal of women's health · 29 Aug 2026

Osteoarthritis

upin humans1HR 1.07Low certainty

1 study

Ultra-processed food raises the risk of osteoarthritis in humans (HR 1.070, 95% CI 1.023-1.120).
Humansper 1-SD UPF increase in Model 2femalesn = 13,122
Ultra-Processed Food Intake, Circulating NMR Metabolomic Signatures and Risk of Osteoarthritis in Women · International journal of women's health · 29 Aug 2026

Hypertension

upin humans1+16% higher riskLow certainty

1 study