(P24-048-23) Ultra-Processed Food Intake and Depressive Symptomatology Among Older Puerto Rican Adults Living in Boston

Objectives: Ultra-processed food (UPF) intake has been linked to depression; however, studies are limited and have not focused on a Puerto Rican population. Depressive symptoms may be impacted by unhealthful dietary habits, such as intake of UPFs. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the association between UPF intake and depressive symptomatology among Puerto Rican adults aged 45 to 75 y.

Methods: Data were from the baseline visit of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. Dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire. UPFs were identified using the NOVA classification system (group 1: unprocessed and minimally processed foods, group 2: processed culinary ingredients, group 3: processed foods, and group 4: ultra-processed foods). UPF intake (NOVA group 4), as a percentage of total energy was regressed on depressive symptomatology (CESD Score ≥ 16) using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: Of the total sample (n=1,284), mean percentage of total energy from UPFs was 34% and 59% had a CESD Score ≥ 16. Higher intake of UPFs was associated with higher likelihood of depressive symptomatology (OR: 2.65, 95%CI: 1.02,6.88, P=0.046) after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, physical activity score, smoking status, and alcohol use. After adjusting for fruit and vegetable intake, associations between UPFs and depressive symptomatology were slightly attenuated (OR: 2.52, 95%CI: 0.96, 6.59, P=0.059). Similarly, associations were attenuated after adjustment for income to poverty ratio (OR: 2.36, 95%CI: 0.90, 6.19, P=0.083).

Conclusions: Greater intake of UPF was associated with depressive symptomatology among Puerto Rican adults. While the OR remained high, significance was attenuated after adjustment for fruit and vegetable intake and income to poverty ratio, suggesting that income may affect dietary quality. Further work is needed to clarify the directionality of UPF consumption and depression.

Funding Sources: NIH P01 AG023394, NIH P50 HL105185, and NIH R01 AG055948