Nutrition & Metabolism is calling for submissions to our Collection on Ultra-Processed Food and Metabolic Health.
Diet plays an important role in maintaining metabolic health. Therefore, the significant increase in the availability and consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) raises serious global health concerns. These foods, in addition to being associated with low diet quality, have been associated with poor health outcomes. Several studies have revealed a negative impact of high UPF consumption on metabolic health and risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. However, the number of well-designed studies remains limited. Further studies are needed to confirm the link between UPF consumption and metabolic health in different populations at different life stages, and identify putative mechanisms linking UPF consumption to impaired metabolic health. In addition, it remains to be clarified whether all UPFs have a negative impact on health. Although falling under the definition of UPFs, some plant-based UPFs, developed as alternative to animal-based food, have a good nutritional profile, but their impact on health remains debated.
This collection aims to publish new original articles based on clinical and/or epidemiological studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses exploring the relationship between UPFs (and individual sub-categories) consumption and metabolic health, and the mechanisms underlying this relationship in humans. Animal studies investigating possible mechanisms are also welcome.