Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34684391›Full record

SynthesisNutrients2021

Ultra-Processed Foods and Nutritional Dietary Profile: A Meta-Analysis of Nationally Representative Samples.

Daniela Martini, Justyna Godos, Marialaura Bonaccio, Paola Vitaglione, Giuseppe Grosso

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Nutrients, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07175701 (Effects of Ultra-processed Food Reduction Intervention on Postprandial Glucose and Glycemic Variability in Korean Young Adults), which is not on this map. Cited by 269 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
269citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
45.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07175701 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Ultra-processed Food Reduction Intervention on Postprandial Glucose and Glycemic Variability in Korean Young Adults: Study Protocol for the ULTRA-CGM Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorKorea UniversityRan2025 to 2026Enrolled50ConditionsPostprandial Glucose, Glucose Levels, HyperglycemiasArms40-minute one-on-one dietary counseling and nutrition education aimed at reducing ultra-processed food consumption, Standard dietary counseling and nutrition education based on national guidelines
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

269 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 396 citations in OpenAlex.

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209 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Daniela MartiniDepartment of Food, Environmental, and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8298-926X
Justyna GodosDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5809-5706
Marialaura BonaccioDepartment of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8082-6552
Paola VitaglioneDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6608-5209
Giuseppe GrossoDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3930-5285
University of Catania · ITFederico II University Hospital · ITIstituto Neurologico Mediterraneo · ITUniversity of Milan · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), as described by the NOVA classification system, represents a potential threat to human health. The nutritional composition of UPFs may explain their observed adverse effects. The present study aimed to provide a quantitative meta-analysis of nationally representative surveys on the consumption of UPFs and the dietary/nutrient composition of respondents' diets. A systematic search for relevant studies published prior to July 2021 was conducted via electronic databases. The studies that provided the dietary/nutrient composition of foods categorized according to the NOVA classification system were selected. The association between UPFs and other dietary variables was modelled using ordinary least squares linear regression based on aggregated data extracted from the selected articles. Consumption of UPFs represented up to 80% of total caloric intake in the US and Canada, with confectionery and sugar-sweetened beverages being the most consumed items. When considered in relation to other food groups, an inverse linear relation between UPFs and less-processed foods was evident. Increased UPF intake correlated with an increase in free sugars, total fats, and saturated fats, as well as a decrease in fiber, protein, potassium, zinc, and magnesium, and vitamins A, C, D, E, B12, and niacin. In conclusion, the data indicate that increased UPF consumption negatively affects the nutritional quality of diets.

Indexed as

DietFast FoodsFood QualityNutritive ValueSnacksSugar-Sweetened BeveragesAdolescentAdultChildDietary SugarsEnergy IntakeFemaleFood HandlingHumansMaleNutrition SurveysDietary Sugarsdiet qualitynationally representativenutrientssugar-sweetened beveragessweetsultra-processed food

Identifiers

PMID34684391
PMCPMC8538030
OpenAlexW3202712388

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.