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Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health

Preston, Jessica M. ; Iversen, Jo ; Hufnagel, Antonia ; Hjort, Line LU ; Taylor, Jodie ; Sanchez, Clara ; George, Victoria ; Hansen, Ann N. ; Ängquist, Lars and Hermann, Susan , et al. (2025) In Cell Metabolism 37(10). p.2-1960
Abstract

Consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with increased caloric intake and impaired health. Here, we conducted a nutrition trial (NCT05368194) with controlled, 2 × 2 crossover design and tested whether ultra-processed food impairs reproductive and metabolic fitness, with further aggravation by excess caloric intake. Comparing the response from an unprocessed to ultra-processed diet identified increased body weight and low-density lipoprotein (LDL):high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, independent of caloric load. Several hormones involved in energy metabolism and spermatogenesis were affected, including decreased levels of growth/differentiation factor 15 and follicle-stimulating hormone. Sperm quality trended toward... (More)

Consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with increased caloric intake and impaired health. Here, we conducted a nutrition trial (NCT05368194) with controlled, 2 × 2 crossover design and tested whether ultra-processed food impairs reproductive and metabolic fitness, with further aggravation by excess caloric intake. Comparing the response from an unprocessed to ultra-processed diet identified increased body weight and low-density lipoprotein (LDL):high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, independent of caloric load. Several hormones involved in energy metabolism and spermatogenesis were affected, including decreased levels of growth/differentiation factor 15 and follicle-stimulating hormone. Sperm quality trended toward impairment, with a decrease in total motility. Differential accumulation of pollutants between the discordant diets were detected, such as decreased plasma lithium and a trend for increased levels of the phthalate mono(4-methyl-7-carboxyheptyl)phthalate (cxMINP) in serum, following the ultra-processed diet. Alteration in caloric load alone had distinct effects on the measured outcomes. This study provides evidence that consumption of ultra-processed food is detrimental for cardiometabolic and reproductive outcomes, regardless of excessive caloric intake.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
body weight management, cholesterol, depression score, diet intervention, hormones, phthalates, pollutants, reproduction, sperm quality, ultra-processed diet
in
Cell Metabolism
volume
37
issue
10
pages
2 - 1960
publisher
Cell Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:105016888202
  • pmid:40882621
ISSN
1550-4131
DOI
10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
01cc83c1-3aea-455a-ab85-eb4204d9277b
date added to LUP
2025-11-25 09:05:04
date last changed
2025-11-26 02:15:43
@article{01cc83c1-3aea-455a-ab85-eb4204d9277b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with increased caloric intake and impaired health. Here, we conducted a nutrition trial (NCT05368194) with controlled, 2 × 2 crossover design and tested whether ultra-processed food impairs reproductive and metabolic fitness, with further aggravation by excess caloric intake. Comparing the response from an unprocessed to ultra-processed diet identified increased body weight and low-density lipoprotein (LDL):high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, independent of caloric load. Several hormones involved in energy metabolism and spermatogenesis were affected, including decreased levels of growth/differentiation factor 15 and follicle-stimulating hormone. Sperm quality trended toward impairment, with a decrease in total motility. Differential accumulation of pollutants between the discordant diets were detected, such as decreased plasma lithium and a trend for increased levels of the phthalate mono(4-methyl-7-carboxyheptyl)phthalate (cxMINP) in serum, following the ultra-processed diet. Alteration in caloric load alone had distinct effects on the measured outcomes. This study provides evidence that consumption of ultra-processed food is detrimental for cardiometabolic and reproductive outcomes, regardless of excessive caloric intake.</p>}},
  author       = {{Preston, Jessica M. and Iversen, Jo and Hufnagel, Antonia and Hjort, Line and Taylor, Jodie and Sanchez, Clara and George, Victoria and Hansen, Ann N. and Ängquist, Lars and Hermann, Susan and Craig, Jeffrey M. and Torekov, Signe and Lindh, Christian and Hougaard, Karin S. and Nóbrega, Marcelo A. and Simpson, Stephen J. and Barrès, Romain}},
  issn         = {{1550-4131}},
  keywords     = {{body weight management; cholesterol; depression score; diet intervention; hormones; phthalates; pollutants; reproduction; sperm quality; ultra-processed diet}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{2--1960}},
  publisher    = {{Cell Press}},
  series       = {{Cell Metabolism}},
  title        = {{Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}