Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, such as soft drinks, packaged snacks, and ready-to-eat meals, may be associated with an increased risk of developing MS
That’s according to a large study involving nearly 186,000 middle-aged adults in the UK, which found that each 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake – measured as a share of total food intake – was linked to about a 9% higher risk of MS.
Ultra-processed foods have become a major part of modern diets worldwide. Designed to be convenient, affordable, and highly palatable, these industrially made products now account for a substantial portion of daily food intake in many countries. In the UK, they make up about 57% of total calorie intake in adults.
Beyond being linked to more than 30 health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and diseases of the heart and blood vessels, growing evidence suggests ultra-processed foods may also play a role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Although evidence remains limited for MS, diets high in ultra-processed foods have been shown to promote inflammation and oxidative stress – two processes known to play a role in MS development and progression. As they replace healthier foods, they may also reduce the intake of beneficial nutrients that help protect against inflammation.
You can read full details of the study on the MS-UK website.
Source: MS-UK
