Ultra-processed foods intake in relation to metabolic health status, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and adropin levels in adults

Table 2 Multivariable-adjusted intakes of selected food groups and nutrients of study participants across energy-adjusted tertiles of ultra-processed foods intake (n = 527)¹

Variables	Tertiles of energy-adjusted ultra-processed foods intake ²			P-value ³
Variables	T1 (n = 175)	T2 (n = 176)	T3 (n = 176)	P-value ³
Ultra-processed foods intake (g/d)	< 90.81	90.81-157.43	> 157.43
Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010⁴	57.31 ± 8.26	55.31 ± 7.29	52.40 ± 8.21	< 0.001
Energy (Kcal/d)	2497.85 ± 51.99	2057.94 ± 49.54	2276.39 ± 51.57	< 0.001
Nutrients
Proteins (% of energy)	14.62 ± 0.23	14.35 ± 0.22	13.77 ± 0.22	0.03
Carbohydrates (% of energy)	61.53 ± 0.64	61.34 ± 0.61	59.85 ± 0.64	0.14
Fats (% of energy)	25.94 ± 0.53	26.21 ± 0.50	28.26 ± 0.52	0.01
Ultra-processed foods components (g/d)
Cookies and cakes	18.46 ± 3.20	37.40 ± 3.05	64.54 ± 3.12	< 0.001
Dairy beverages	5.89 ± 1.97	12.58 ± 1.88	24.08 ± 1.92	< 0.001
Potato chips and salty snacks	2.13 ± 0.84	4.96 ± 0.81	8.51 ± 0.82	< 0.001
Processed meat and fast foods	8.60 ± 1.61	18.04 ± 1.53	30.17 ± 1.57	< 0.001
Oils and sauces	2.79 ± 0.68	6.00 ± 0.65	10.42 ± 0.67	< 0.001
Sweets	7.05 ± 2.41	18.40 ± 2.30	28.69 ± 2.35	< 0.001
Nondairy beverages	0.87 ± 6.43	26.82 ± 6.14	85.31 ± 6.27	< 0.001

¹ Values are means ± standard error (SE). Energy intake and macronutrients were adjusted for age and sex; all other values were adjusted for age, sex and energy intake
² Ultra-processed foods intake was adjusted for energy intake based on residual method
³ P-value obtained from ANCOVA. Bold values indicate P<0.05.
⁴ Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 score ranged from 10 to 100 and included 10 components: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, long-chain n-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices, trans fatty acids, sodium

ISSN: 1475-2891