Contribution of Nova-classified ultraprocessed foods to energy and nutrient intakes in very old people: the Newcastle 85+ Study

Objectives To estimate the contribution of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) to total energy intake and to macronutrient and micronutrient intakes among very old people aged 85 years in the Newcastle 85+ Study.Design Cross-sectional observational analysis of baseline dietary and demographic data from the Newcastle 85+ cohort.Setting Community-dwelling and institutionalised adults in Newcastle on Tyne and North Tyneside, UK, recruited through general practice registered between June 2006 and October 2007.Participants Eight hundred participants (62% female) aged 85 years at baseline, with two complete non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.Primary outcome The primary outcome was the contribution of UPF (Nova group 4) to total energy intake, macronutrient intakes, expressed as percentage of total energy for carbohydrate, protein, total fat, saturated fat and added sugars, as grams per day for fibre and to micronutrient intakes (vitamins A, B₆, B₁₂, C, D, E and folate) and minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, iron and sodium). All evaluated across sex, education and socioeconomic status, adjusted tertiles of UPF intake.Results Among the 800 participants included in the analysis, UPF contributed 56% of total energy intake, surpassing that from unprocessed foods (27%). Total energy intake did not differ across tertiles of UPF consumption (lowest vs highest tertile: 1759.5 kcal/day (95% CI 1684.6 to 1834.4) vs 1740.0 kcal/day (1667.3 to 1812.7)). Higher UPF intake was associated with a higher proportion of energy from carbohydrates and added sugars, and a lower proportion from protein and saturated fat. Intakes of several micronutrients were lower in the highest versus the lowest UPF tertile, including vitamin C (59.9 mg/day (49.8 to 70.0) vs 94.0 mg/day (83.7 to 104.4)) and potassium (2455.9 mg/day (2334.1 to 2577.6) vs 2786.3 mg/day (2660.8 to 2911.8)). By contrast, calcium from fortified foods increased across tertiles (6.3 mg/day (3.7 to 8.9) to 15.4 mg/day (12.9 to 17.9)).Conclusions This study highlights the potential role of UPF in the diets of very old people: higher UPF intake was not associated with higher energy intakes often observed in younger populations. Some UPF, particularly fortified products, may contribute to meeting micronutrient requirements in very old people where dietary inadequacies are common. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to inform dietary guidance for very old people.