Fresh findings from recent research have brought to light a concerning correlation between consuming specific foods and an increased risk of prediabetes among young adults. Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet at the level for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
The study, published in a peer-reviewed journal and conducted by the Keck School of Medicine at the University of California, involved 85 young individuals aged 17 to 22 over several years. These participants provided dietary information during initial visits from 2014 to 2018 and returned for a follow-up appointment four years later.
During each visit, the participants detailed their food intake on both weekdays and weekends and also gave blood samples for statistical analysis. The results revealed that a 10% increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a 64% higher risk of prediabetes and a 56% higher risk of glucose regulation issues.
Various ultra-processed foods like sweets, soda, cereal, packaged spreads, flavored yogurts, and restaurant meals were considered in the study. Professor Vaia Lida Chatzi, the senior author, emphasized that even minor increases in ultra-processed food consumption could disrupt glucose regulation in young adults at risk of obesity.
The research underscores the role of diet as a modifiable factor in early metabolic diseases and emphasizes the need for preventive strategies targeting young individuals. Ultra-processed foods are typically manufactured products containing uncommon ingredients, additives, and preservatives not commonly used in home cooking, often high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat.
Further studies with larger sample sizes and detailed diet tracking are planned to identify the specific ultra-processed foods most harmful to young adults. The researchers aim to investigate the biological mechanisms linking these foods to prediabetes and how they impact blood sugar regulation.
Yiping Li, a former researcher at the Keck School of Medicine and a doctoral student, highlighted that limiting the consumption of ultra-processed foods could help prevent prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in young adults. The British Heart Foundation warns that such foods, rich in salt, sugar, or saturated fat, may pose risks to heart and circulatory health, although the necessity of completely excluding them from diets remains uncertain.