Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with depression, mesocorticolimbic volume, and inflammation
Contreras Rodríguez, Oren 
(Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Reales-Moreno, Marta 
(Universitat de Girona)
Fernández-Barrés, Sílvia 
(Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Cimpean, A. (Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta)
Arnoriaga-Rodriguez, Maria 
(Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición)
Puig, J. (Institute of Diagnostic Imaging (IDI)-Research Unit (IDIR))
Biarnés, C. (Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta)
Motger-Albertí, A. (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición)
Cano, Marta
(Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Fernández-Real, J. M. (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición)
| Data: |
2023 |
| Resum: |
The consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPF) has been associated with depression and inflammation and preclinical studies showed that some UPF components disrupt the amygdala-hippocampal complex. We combine diet, clinical and brain imaging data to investigate the relationship between the UPF consumption, depressive symptoms, and brain volumes in humans, considering interactions with obesity, and the mediation effect of inflammation biomarkers. One-hundred fifty-two adults underwent diet, depressive symptoms, anatomic magnetic resonance imaging assessments and laboratory tests. Relationships between the % of UPF consumption (in grams) of the total diet, depressive symptoms, and gray matter brain volumes were explored using several adjusted regression models, and in interaction with the presence of obesity. Whether inflammatory biomarkers (i. e. , white blood cell count, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, c-reactive protein) mediate the previous associations was investigated using R mediation package. High UPF consumption was associated with higher depressive symptoms in all participants (β = 0. 178, CI = 0. 008-0. 261) and in those with obesity (β = 0. 214, CI = -0. 004-0. 333). Higher consumption was also associated with lower volumes in the posterior cingulate cortex and the left amygdala, which in the participants with obesity also encompassed the left ventral putamen and the dorsal frontal cortex. White blood count levels mediated the association between UPF consumption and depressive symptoms (p = 0. 022). Limitations: The present study precludes any causal conclusions. UPF consumption is associated with depressive symptoms and lower volumes within the mesocorticolimbic brain network implicated in reward processes and conflict monitoring. Associations were partially dependent on obesity and white blood cell count. |
| Drets: |
Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.  |
| Llengua: |
Anglès |
| Document: |
Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada |
| Matèria: |
Amygdala ;
Cingulate cortex ;
Depressive symptoms ;
Inflammation ;
Obesity ;
Ultra-processed foods and drinks |
| Publicat a: |
Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 335 (15 2023) , p. 340-348, ISSN 1573-2517 |
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.009
PMID: 37207947
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Registre creat el 2024-09-20, darrera modificació el 2025-10-12