Intake of Ultra-processed Foods Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Crohn's Disease: A Cross-sectional and Prospective Analysis of 187 154 Participants in the UK Biobank. (28th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Jie; Wellens, Judith; Kalla, Rahul; Fu, Tian; Deng, Minzi; Zhang, Han; Yuan, Shuai; Wang, Xiaoyan; Theodoratou, Evropi; Li, Xue; Satsangi, Jack
• Is Part Of: Journal of Crohn's and colitis. Volume 17:Number 4(2023)
• Page Start: 535
• Page End: 552
• Publication Date: 2022-10-28
• Subjects: Inflammatory bowel diseases -- ultra-processed food -- utrition; Inflammatory bowel diseases -- Periodicals; 616.344005
• DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjac167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1873-9946

Abstract

Abstract: Background and Aims: Ultra-processed food [UPF] consumption has been linked to globally increasing incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD]. We aimed to investigate the association between UPF consumption and IBD incidence, prevalence, and IBD-relevant outcomes. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study in 187 854 individuals included in the national UK Biobank, using 24-h dietary recall questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to examine the association between UPFs and the prevalence and incidence risk of IBD, respectively. Results: A total of 185 849 participants with a mean age of 56.2 were included, with a mean follow-up of 9.84 years. During follow-up, 841 developed IBD (251 Crohn's disease [CD], and 590 ulcerative colitis [UC]). UPF intake in IBD patients was significantly higher: CD: odds ratio [OR] 1.94 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52, 2.49, p <0.001); UC: OR 1.39 [95% CI: 1.17, 1.65, p <0.001]. Compared with low consumption, higher UPF consumption was significantly associated with incident CD: hazard ration [HR] 2.00 [95% CI: 1.32, 3.03, p = 0.001], but not UC. We also found a significant association between UPF intake and need of IBD-related surgery: HR 4.06 [95% CI: 1.52, 10.86, p = 0.005]. Conclusion: Higher intake of UPFs was associated with higher incidence of CD, but not UC. In individuals with a pre-existing diagnosis of IBD, consumption of UPFs was significantly higher compared with controls, and was associated with an increased need for IBD-related surgery. Further studies are needed to address the impact of UPF intake on disease pathogenesis and outcomes. Graphical abstract: