INTAKE OF ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS IS ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN BRAZILIAN ADOLESCENTS.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of the consumption of foods of the ultra-processed group (UPF) with inflammatory markers in the adolescent population in Northeastern Brazil. DESIGN A cross-sectional population-based study. Food consumption was evaluated using two 24-hour dietary recalls using the NOVA classification for food processing levels. The following inflammatory markers were evaluated: adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the association between the percentage of UPF energy contribution and inflammatory markers. SETTING Sao Luis, Maranhao, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS The sample consisted of 391 male and female adolescents, aged from 17 to 18 years. RESULTS The average daily energy consumption by adolescents was 8032.9 kJ/day, of which 26.1% originated from UPF. The upper tertile (T3) of UPF consumption presented higher intake of simple carbohydrates, lipids, saturated fat, and sodium and lower protein intake. Individuals in T3 presented higher serum leptin and CRP levels (p <0.05). Adolescents with UPF energy consumption ≥30.0% (Tertile 3 of UPF) had a 79% [exp(0.58)=1.79] increase in IL-8 levels when compared to adolescents in Tertile 1 of UPF (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS The association between the consumption of UPF, poor quality diet, and pro-inflammatory markers have important harmful effects that can be observed as early as in adolescence.