Women with a higher intake of UPF were more likely to have elevated BMI, to smoke, to have diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and to exercise less. Comparing the highest to lowest quintiles of UPF consumption, there was also a 49% greater risk for depression using the strict criteria, and a 34% increase using the broader criteria. Given that this was not a controlled trial, causality cannot be established. However, a statistical lag-analysis found similar associations making reverse causality unlikely, and adjusting for potential confounders also did not change the results.
Specific components of UPF were also examined; after multivariate analysis, only artificial sweeteners (26% greater risk) and artificial beverages (37% greater) were still linked with depression. Additionally, women who were able to reduce their intake of UPF by at least 3 servings per day had a 16% lower risk for depression compared to women with a stable intake during each 4-year period. While not a controlled trial and limited to primarily non-Hispanic white women, this large, prospective, long-term, and well-adjusted study adds to the potential dangers of UPF and artificial products.