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Food Science and Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P09-023-24) Portfolio Analysis of NIH Research on Ultra-Processed Foods

Sunday, June 30, 2024
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 301
Disclosure(s):
Bramaramba J. Kowtha, MS, RDN: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: There has been a drastic increase in global consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF). Research suggests there is an association between a UPF-rich diet and an increased risk for adverse health outcomes such as obesity, cardiometabolic diseases, and cancer. The scientific evidence is derived mostly from observational studies and the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is reviewing evidence on UPF intake and risk for obesity. Given the potential impact of UPF on diet quality and diet-related diseases, it is essential to understand the current state of research. Our analysis provides an overview of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research portfolio on UPF and associated health outcomes.

Methods: Using NIH’s iSearch, we searched for NIH grants on UPF funded across fiscal years 2019-2023 using key words in the grant titles, abstracts, and specific aims. Examples of key words include “ultra-processed food”, “highly processed food”, and “NOVA food classification system”. We reviewed resulting grants for relevance to UPF. We characterized the study designs, populations, and health topics of the UPF grants.

Results: We found 37 NIH grants on UPF, which increased between 2019-2023. Many studies equated UPF to foods high in salt, sugar, fat, and additives. There was no consistent UPF definition. Some health topics studied include insulin resistance, obesity, colorectal cancer, hypertension, cognitive decline, and other diet-related chronic diseases. Research also studied UPF linkages with inflammation, food insecurity, maternal health, and food allergies. Few grants focused on biological mechanisms related to UPF consumption and health outcomes. Most studies were observational, and a few were basic research or an analysis of existing data. Very few were intervention studies.

Conclusions: The number of NIH UPF grants increased yearly since 2019, but support remained limited through 2023. UPF consumption is emerging as an important risk factor for diet-related chronic diseases. There is a need for clear characterization of UPFs, more research on reasons for increased UPF consumption (e.g., food insecurity, palatability), research on mechanisms of UPF on health outcomes, and better methods and measures to assess UPFs, and eventually, policies and pragmatic approaches to regulate UPF consumption.

Funding Sources: NIH Office of Disease Prevention