Previous Article in Journal
The Effects of Socioeconomic Contextual Factors on Racial Differences in Foster Care Placement Stability
Previous Article in Special Issue
Personalised Nutrition Approaches in the Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review of Evidence and Practice
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 22
Issue 8
10.3390/ijerph22081275
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Metabolic Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

by
Julia Bauer
1,
Fernanda Oliveira Ayala
1,
Aline Marcadenti
2,
Rachel Helena Vieira Machado
2,
Ângela Cristina Bersch-Ferreira
2,
Maria Fernanda Souza Moreira
1,
Mileni Vanti Beretta
1,
Ana Maria Pandolfo Feoli
3 and
Fernanda Michielin Busnello
4,*
1
Graduate Program in Nutrition Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, RS, Brazil
2
Hcor Research Institute (IP-Hcor), São Paulo 04004-030, SP, Brazil
3
School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre 90619-900, RS, Brazil
4
Nutrition Department, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, RS, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(8), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081275 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 10 July 2025 / Revised: 4 August 2025 / Accepted: 12 August 2025 / Published: 14 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Diabetes: Advances in Prevention and Management)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Understanding how food processing impacts type 2 diabetes (T2DM) control is essential for disease management. This study aimed to assess the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, as defined by the NOVA classification, and metabolic parameters in T2DM patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from the NUGLIC study, a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Multiple linear and Poisson regressions were used to evaluate associations between quintiles of processed and ultra-processed food consumption and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included fasting glucose, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. Results: This study included 326 participants. UPF consumption accounted for approximately 16.4% of total daily energy intake. No significant linear associations were observed between higher consumption of industrialized foods and anthropometric or glycemic markers. However, intermediate and high consumption levels were associated with an increased total cholesterol (Q3: β = 26.6; Q4: β = 26.7) and LDL-cholesterol (Q4: β = 19.8; Q5: β = 17.5). Conclusion: In T2DM patients, a higher intake of processed and ultra-processed foods was linked to elevated cholesterol and LDL levels. These findings highlight potential cardiovascular risks but do not support causality due to the study’s cross-sectional design.
Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus; ultra-processed foods; NOVA food classification type 2 diabetes mellitus; ultra-processed foods; NOVA food classification

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Bauer, J.; Ayala, F.O.; Marcadenti, A.; Machado, R.H.V.; Cristina Bersch-Ferreira, Â.; Moreira, M.F.S.; Beretta, M.V.; Feoli, A.M.P.; Busnello, F.M. Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Metabolic Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 1275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081275

AMA Style

Bauer J, Ayala FO, Marcadenti A, Machado RHV, Cristina Bersch-Ferreira Â, Moreira MFS, Beretta MV, Feoli AMP, Busnello FM. Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Metabolic Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(8):1275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081275

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bauer, Julia, Fernanda Oliveira Ayala, Aline Marcadenti, Rachel Helena Vieira Machado, Ângela Cristina Bersch-Ferreira, Maria Fernanda Souza Moreira, Mileni Vanti Beretta, Ana Maria Pandolfo Feoli, and Fernanda Michielin Busnello. 2025. "Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Metabolic Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 8: 1275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081275

APA Style

Bauer, J., Ayala, F. O., Marcadenti, A., Machado, R. H. V., Cristina Bersch-Ferreira, Â., Moreira, M. F. S., Beretta, M. V., Feoli, A. M. P., & Busnello, F. M. (2025). Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Metabolic Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(8), 1275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081275

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop