Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40033461›Full record

SynthesisSystematic reviews2025

Ultra-processed foods and risk of all-cause mortality: an updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Shuming Liang, Yesheng Zhou, Qian Zhang, Shuang Yu, Shanshan Wu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Systematic reviews, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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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.

Shuming Liang *Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Beijing, 100050, China.
Yesheng Zhou *Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Beijing, 100050, China.
Qian ZhangDepartment of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Beijing, 100050, China.
Shuang YuDepartment of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Beijing, 100050, China.
Shanshan WuDepartment of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Beijing, 100050, China. shanshanwu@ccmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-9791-8093

Funding

Beijing Nova Program 20230484349
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUltra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been steadily increasing globally, yet the associated risk of all-cause mortality remains unclear. We aimed to assess the risk of all-cause mortality of UPFs via an updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published until July 2, 2024, in addition to referred studies included in the previous systematic review. Prospective cohort studies assessing the association between NOVA classification-defined UPF consumption and all-cause mortality were included. Dose-response meta-analysis via a random-effect model was used to combine the results with hazard ratio (HR) as an effect measure.

resultsOverall, 18 studies with 1,148,387 participants (173,107 deaths) were identified. Compared to the lowest, participants with the highest UPF consumption had a 15% increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.09-1.22; I

conclusionsOur updated meta-analysis, incorporating a greater number of newly published cohort studies using NOVA classification with the largest sample size to date, strengthens the evidence linking higher UPF consumption to increased all-cause mortality risk. Strategies such as dietary guidelines and policies for limiting UPF consumption worldwide should be encouraged. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023467226.

Indexed as

Fast FoodsMortalityCause of DeathFood, ProcessedHumansProspective StudiesRisk FactorsDose-responseMeta-analysisMortalitySystematic reviewUltra-processed food

Identifiers

PMID40033461
PMCPMC11874696

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.