Ultra-Processed Food Intake Is Associated with Dietary Quality, Dental Caries, and Constipation-Related Symptoms Among Preschool Children in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 11101, Taiwan
- 2School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan
- 3School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- 4Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Nutraceutical Biotechnology, Shih Chien University, Taipei 10462, Taiwan
- 5Department of Education, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 11101, Taiwan
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Evidence on ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and health among East Asian preschoolers is limited. We examined associations with nutrient intake, anthropometry, dental caries, and bowel symptoms in Taiwan. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 822 children aged 2–6 years. A caregiver-reported 107-item food frequency questionnaire estimated UPF energy contribution using an adapted NOVA framework; anthropometric and dental data were available for 777 and 746 children, respectively. Results: UPFs supplied 15.12% of energy. Higher UPF intake was associated with lower fiber, protein, and several micronutrient intakes and higher saturated fat and sodium intakes, without significant anthropometric differences. Caries prevalence was 12.8% in Q1 and 31.2% in Q4 (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48–3.48). Relative to Q1, Q3 showed higher prevalences of infrequent bowel movements (aPR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09–2.00) and hard stools (aPR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.01–1.49); Q4 associations were not statistically significant. Exploratory food-group analyses associated fruit intake with lower reported frequency of infrequent bowel movements and biscuit/snack intake with higher hard stool frequency. Conclusions: Higher UPF intake was associated with unfavorable nutrient profiles, dental caries, and selected caregiver-reported bowel symptoms, but not anthropometric status. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the temporal relationships between UPF consumption and these health outcomes during early childhood.
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BibTeX
@article{mu2026ultraprocessed,
title = {{Ultra-Processed Food Intake Is Associated with Dietary Quality, Dental Caries, and Constipation-Related Symptoms Among Preschool Children in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study}},
author = {Shu-Chi Mu and Sing-Chung Li and Shan-Ching Hsu and Yi-Ling Chen and Yu-Tung Chang and Shu-Fen Liao and Chiao-Ming Chen},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213670},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3670},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ultra-Processed Food Intake Is Associated with Dietary Quality, Dental Caries, and Constipation-Related Symptoms Among Preschool Children in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Shu-Chi Mu
AU - Sing-Chung Li
AU - Shan-Ching Hsu
AU - Yi-Ling Chen
AU - Yu-Tung Chang
AU - Shu-Fen Liao
AU - Chiao-Ming Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213670
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3670
AB - Background/Objectives: Evidence on ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and health among East Asian preschoolers is limited. We examined associations with nutrient intake, anthropometry, dental caries, and bowel symptoms in Taiwan. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 822 children aged 2–6 years. A caregiver-reported 107-item food frequency questionnaire estimated UPF energy contribution using an adapted NOVA framework; anthropometric and dental data were available for 777 and 746 children, respectively. Results: UPFs supplied 15.12% of energy. Higher UPF intake was associated with lower fiber, protein, and several micronutrient intakes and higher saturated fat and sodium intakes, without significant anthropometric differences. Caries prevalence was 12.8% in Q1 and 31.2% in Q4 (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48–3.48). Relative to Q1, Q3 showed higher prevalences of infrequent bowel movements (aPR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09–2.00) and hard stools (aPR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.01–1.49); Q4 associations were not statistically significant. Exploratory food-group analyses associated fruit intake with lower reported frequency of infrequent bowel movements and biscuit/snack intake with higher hard stool frequency. Conclusions: Higher UPF intake was associated with unfavorable nutrient profiles, dental caries, and selected caregiver-reported bowel symptoms, but not anthropometric status. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the temporal relationships between UPF consumption and these health outcomes during early childhood.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -