5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Researchers developed poly-metabolite scores to distinguish high- and low-ultra-processed food diets in observational and experimental settings.

• 2

  Data from 718 adults aged 50 to 74 years revealed 191 serum and 293 urinary metabolites significantly correlated with UPF intake.

• 3

  Four metabolites were identified as robust predictors of UPF intake, with N6-carboxymethyllysine positively correlated and (S)C(S)S-S-Methylcysteine sulfoxide negatively correlated.

• 4

  The poly-metabolite scores differentiated diet phases in a randomized controlled trial, confirming their utility as objective measures of UPF intake.

• 5

  The findings highlight the need for better assessment of UPF, which constitute over 50% of calories in the American diet.