"Metabolite Scores as Biomarkers for Ultra-Processed Food Intake: A Breakthrough in Dietary Research"

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"Metabolite Scores as Biomarkers for Ultra-Processed Food Intake: A Breakthrough in Dietary Research"

[!CDATA[A recent study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that sets of metabolites found in blood and urine can accurately reflect the amount of energy derived from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumed by individuals. UPFs make up a significant portion of the American diet, but their impact on health is not well understood due to challenges in tracking their consumption accurately. Researchers examined blood and urine samples from 718 older adults, combined with detailed dietary information, to identify specific chemical fingerprints, known as poly-metabolite scores, associated with UPF intake. They discovered that numerous blood and urine metabolites were linked to the percentage of energy obtained from UPFs, and a poly-metabolite score based on 28 blood metabolites or 33 urine metabolites could predict UPF intake based on self-reported dietary data. The study's findings were validated in a controlled feeding study involving 20 inpatients at the NIH Clinical Center, where the poly-metabolite scores effectively distinguished between high-UPF and no-UPF diets. The researchers suggest that these scores could be valuable objective measures of UPF intake in large population studies, potentially reducing the reliance on self-reported dietary data. The authors emphasize the importance of evaluating and refining poly-metabolite scores in diverse populations with varying diets and UPF intake levels. These scores have the potential to offer new insights into the relationship between UPFs and human health, providing a more accurate understanding of the role of UPFs in overall well-being.]]