{
  "abstract": "Background and Objectives: High ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, potentially related to the progression and prognosis of breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and one-year changes in serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α).\n\nMethods: Analysis included a sub-cohort (n = 176) of the LifeBreast project, a multicenter randomized trial investigating whether a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) vs. a low-fat diet (control) affects the prognosis among breast cancer patients. Dietary intake was assessed through a 149-item food frequency questionnaire, with UPF identification based on the NOVA classification. Participants were categorized into tertiles of UPF intake. Cytokine concentrations were measured using the Olink® Target 48 kit. The primary outcome was the change in cytokine levels from baseline to one-year, estimated using multivariable linear regression models.\n\nResults: A significant linear association was found between higher UPF intake and increased TNF-α levels (ptrend​=0.032). In stratified analyses, this association was notably stronger within the control group (ptrend​=0.001). Although not statistically significant, regression coefficients for both IL-6 (bT3​=0.11; 95% CI: -1.49 to 1.71) and IL-18 (bT3​=13.32; 95% CI: -43.47 to 70.10) suggested higher levels in the highest UPF tertiles. Notably, these trends were more pronounced among participants allocated to the control group compared to the MedDiet (IL-6: bT3​=​0.85 vs. −0.57; IL-18: bT3​=47.60 vs. −23.81).\n\nConclusions: Higher UPF intake was associated with a linear increase in TNF-α levels, particularly among participants not following the MedDiet. Non-significant upward trends for IL-6 and IL-18 were most pronounced in the low-fat group, suggesting that adherence to the MedDiet may mitigate UPF-induced pro-inflammatory effects in breast cancer survivors.\n\nKey messages: • UPFs Drive Inflammation: High ultra-processed food intake linearly increases TNF-α levels over time, promoting chronic low-grade inflammation in breast cancer survivors.\n\n• MedDiet as a Buffer: Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet may mitigate the pro-inflammatory effects of UPFs, whereas low-fat diets show a stronger inflammatory response.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "abstract",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "MJ Cobo Díez"
    },
    {
      "name": "C Razquin Burillo"
    },
    {
      "name": "JJ Jiménez Moleón"
    },
    {
      "name": "T Dierssen Sotos"
    },
    {
      "name": "R Barrios Rodríguez"
    },
    {
      "name": "I Gómez Acebo"
    },
    {
      "name": "E Toledo Atucha"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/526qmptjn1p63.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.444",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13697621/",
  "id": "526qmptjn1p63",
  "issns": [
    "1101-1262",
    "1464-360X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.444",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "3. PARALLEL PROGRAMME"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/MED00860"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SOC01210"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SOC02610"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "E.8. Oral presentations: Cancer, cognition and cardiometabolic risks"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Nutritional Studies and Diet"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223706186",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13697621/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13697621",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/526qmptjn1p63.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:38Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13697621",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.444"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:49Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13697621",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13697621"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2739|Nutritional Studies and Diet",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "UPF consumption and pro-inflammatory cytokines in breast cancer survivors: the LifeBreast trial",
  "title_text": "UPF consumption and pro-inflammatory cytokines in breast cancer survivors: the LifeBreast trial",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:34:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/526qmptjn1p63",
  "venue": "The European Journal of Public Health",
  "versions": []
}