Eating ultra-processed foods shortens telomeres

Studies have shown that telomeres (TL) are markers of biological age of genetic material. These are the noncoding regions of the chromosome. In addition to genetic factors, some lifestyle factors such as physical activity and smoking can affect telomeres. Some studies have shown a relationship between diet and telomere length. Currently, a new study titled “Risk of the Segimient University Denabara (SUN) Project-Risk of ultra-processed food consumption and short telomeres in the elderly population” is presented in this year’s presentation. European and International Conference on Obesity (ECOICO 2020), Held online this year (September 1st to 4th). The authors of the study included Lucia Alonso Pedrero, Professor Maira Bes-Rastrollo, and Professor Amelia Marti of Navarra University in Pamplona, ​​Spain.

Image credit: Andrew Makedonski / Shutterstock

What was this study about?

Diet affects the mechanisms of oxidation and inflammation. These oxidative changes and inflammatory processes have a role to play in biological age markers such as TL. With each cell division, the TL gets shorter. Therefore, with age, TL becomes much shorter.

Researchers add that there is a sharp increase in consumption of ultra processed foods (UPFs) around the world, and these foods are associated with several disease processes such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. .. These are very beneficial to manufacturers due to low cost raw materials and long shelf life, which is beneficial to consumers.

This study aims to identify an association between UPF consumption and the risk of shortening telomere in the elderly. It was part of the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) project.

No studies have examined the association between UPF consumption and TL using the NOVA classification. This was the first of its kind. The NOVA classification written by the researchers is “a classification system based on the nature, scope and purpose of industrial food processing”.

what did you do?

This is a cross-sectional study and the researchers wrote. This means a total of 886 participants, including 645 men, were included in the study. Participants were 59-71 years old and were recruited for the SUN project in Spain from 1999-2018.

Saliva samples were collected from participants and telomere length was measured at baseline using real-time qPCR. A 136-item food survey was used to collect data on the consumption of super processed foods. The authors investigated the association between energy-regulated UPF consumption and the risk of short telomeres. UPF consumption was divided into four quartiles: low, medium low, medium high, and high. Telomere length reduction measured less than 20^Th Population percentile.

What did you find?

The results revealed that participants with the highest UPF consumption were at twice the risk of shorter telomeres than those with the lowest UPF consumption. The team said, “The participant with the highest UPF consumption almost doubled the risk of presenting a short TL (adjusted OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.22, P trend = 0.03).”

They also said that those who did not stick to the Mediterranean diet consumed more UPF. They wrote that dairy products, processed meats, pastries, and cookies were the main foods that contributed to the total UPF consumed. Those in the high quartile of UPF also had a family history of heart disease, diabetes, and abnormal body fat, and were also in the habit of snacking between meals. They consume more saturated fats, total fats, polyunsaturated fats, cholesterol, fast foods, sodium, processed meats, etc. and trace amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, minerals and vitamins. I ate less nutrients.

As the consumption of UPF increased, the likelihood of shortening telomeres also increased significantly. Above each low quartile, TL reductions increased by 29%, 40%, and 82%, respectively, in the “Medium-Low”, “Medium-High”, and “High” UPF consumption groups. In addition, those who took more UPF were also at higher risk of depression. This was especially true for people with low levels of physical activity. The intake of UPF also increased the risk of other conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, and death from any cause (all-cause mortality).

Conclusion

The researchers conclude, “High consumption of UPF (> 3 servings/day) increased the risk of shortening telomeres in the elderly Spanish population of the SUN project.” They have worked for decades to see if there is a significant change in telomere length with long-term consumption of UPF, compared to those who consume less processed food and eat a healthier diet. Called for more research tracking subjects.