Scientists have identified molecules in blood and urine that reveal how much ultraprocessed food a person eats, a new study shows.
Ultraprocessed foods—like packaged snacks, sweetened beverages, and ready-made meals—are heavily consumed globally, particularly in the US. These foods, primarily composed of refined ingredients and additives, are increasingly associated with health problems like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
According to lead author Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute, it’s the first time biological indicators have been used to quantify the intake of these widely consumed products.
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“It can potentially give us some clues as to what the underlying biology might be between an ultraprocessed food association and a health outcome,” Loftfield said.
The researchers analysed data from over 1,000 older US adults, more than 700 of whom provided blood, urine, and dietary records. They identified dozens of metabolites linked to ultra-processed food intake and created a reliable biomarker score using 28 blood and up to 33 urine indicators.
“We found this signature that was predictive of this dietary pattern that’s high in ultraprocessed food and not just a specific food item here and there,” Loftfield said. Some biomarkers, including two amino acids and a carbohydrate, appeared consistently in testing, with one suggesting a possible link to type 2 diabetes.
Loftfield’s team tested their scoring tool in a controlled 2019 NIH study where 20 adults alternated between nutrient-matched ultraprocessed and unprocessed diets over two-week periods while living on-site. The metabolite scores successfully identified when participants consumed more ultraprocessed foods, confirming the tool’s accuracy on an individual level.
The results suggested the markers were “valid at the individual level,” Loftfield said.
While still early, experts called the research a major step forward. The study was published in PLOS Medicine.
