| Title: | Associations of ultra-processed food intake with bone mineral density and fractures in the UK Biobank. |
| Journal: | British Journal Of Nutrition |
| Published: | 6 Mar 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41787934/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114526106710 |
Publication 17484
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Abstract
Given there is no prospective research evidence on the association between ultra-processed food intake (UPF) and human bone health, this study aimed to analyze the associations of UPF intake with bone mineral density (BMD) and risk of fractures using data from 163855 participants in the UK Biobank. Multiple linear regression assessed BMD, and Cox regression models estimated fracture risk. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate non-linearity. Participants' average age was 56.0 years, with 1097 hip fractures and 7889 all fractures recorded over 12.0 years of follow-up. Complex inverted U-shaped associations between UPF intake and BMD were found at the femur trochanter. Compared with the lowest UPF intake, the highest UPF intake was linked to a reduction in BMD at the femoral neck (β [SE] = -0.0061 [0.0024], P < .05), femur trochanter (β [SE] = -0.0083 [0.0024], P < .001), lumbar spine (β [SE] = -0.0114 [0.0036], P < .01), and total body (β [SE] = -0.0095 [0.0021], P < .001). The link was more pronounced in participants under 65 and those who were underweight (Pinteraction < .01). Per standard deviation increment of UPF intake was linked to 10.5% and 2.7% higher risks of incident hip fractures (HR, 95% CI: 1.105, 1.029-1.186; P < .01) and all fractures (HR, 95% CI: 1.027, 1.000-1.055; P < .05), respectively. Our results suggest that higher UPF intake is associated with lower BMD and increased risk of fractures captured in hospital inpatient records, highlighting the need for dietary interventions to protect bone health.</p>
5 Authors
- Huaying Hu
- Huan Huang
- Lishan Cai
- Lu Qi
- Tao Zhou
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 29256 | Study of gene-environment interaction and Mendelian randomization of obesity and cardiometabolic risk |
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