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

Jessica M Preston; Jo Iversen; Antonia Hufnagel; Line Hjort; Jodie Taylor; Clara Sanchez; Victoria George; Ann N Hansen; Lars Ängquist; Susan Hermann; Jeffrey M Craig; Signe Torekov; Christian Lindh; Karin S Hougaard; Marcelo A Nóbrega; Stephen J Simpson; Romain Barrès

doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004

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

Jessica M Preston
, Jo Iversen
, Antonia Hufnagel
, Line Hjort
, Jodie Taylor
, Clara Sanchez
, Victoria George
, Ann N Hansen
, Lars Ängquist
, Susan Hermann
, Jeffrey M Craig
, Signe Torekov
, Christian Lindh
, Karin S Hougaard
, Marcelo A Nóbrega
, Stephen J Simpson
, Romain Barrès

University of Copenhagen
Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire
Deakin University
Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshopitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.
Lund University
The University of Chicago
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Universite Cote d'Azur

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

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 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.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Cell Metabolism
Vol/bind	37
Udgave nummer	10
Sider (fra-til)	1950-1960.e2
ISSN	1550-4131
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004
Status	Udgivet - 7 okt. 2025

Emneord

Reproduktion

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004

1 Igangværende

Fornyet Fokus på Kemisk Arbejdsmiljø 2
Vogel, U. B. (Projektleder), Hougaard, K. S. (Projektleder), Madsen, A. M. (Projektleder), Andrup, L. (Projektleder), Hadrup, N. (Projektleder), Sørli, J. B. (Projektleder), Saber, A. T. (Projektleder), Nøjgaard, J. N. K. (Projektdeltager), Frederiksen, M. (Projektleder), Jensen, K. A. (Projektleder), Brostrøm, A. (Projektdeltager), Fonseca, A. S. (Projektleder), Danielsen, P. H. (Projektdeltager), Berthing, T. (Projektdeltager), Mortensen, A. (Projektdeltager), Terrida, E. B. (Projektdeltager), Guldbrandsen, M. (Projektdeltager), Kines, P. (Projektdeltager), Kofoed-Sørensen, V. (Projektdeltager), Jensen, S. P. (Projektdeltager), Kembouche, Y. (Projektdeltager), Polat, M. (Projektdeltager), Kofoed, V. C. (Projektdeltager), Sengupta, S. (Projektdeltager), Sundberg, M. (Projektdeltager), Rothmann, M. H. (Projektdeltager), Hammel, S. C. (Projektdeltager), Wagtberg, M. (Projektdeltager) & Gülen, H. (Projektdeltager)
30/03/2023 → 31/12/2026
Projekter: Projekt › Forskning

Citationsformater

Preston, J. M., Iversen, J., Hufnagel, A., Hjort, L., Taylor, J., Sanchez, C., George, V., Hansen, A. N., Ängquist, L., Hermann, S., Craig, J. M., Torekov, S., Lindh, C., Hougaard, K. S., Nóbrega, M. A., Simpson, S. J., & Barrès, R. (2025). Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health. Cell Metabolism, 37(10), 1950-1960.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004

@article{9dd0da38bce340de9df34d10a4b9e71a,

title = "Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health",

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 {\texttimes} 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.",

keywords = "Reproduktion, Fertilitet, Kemikalier, Hormoner, s{\ae}dkvalitet",

author = "Preston, \{Jessica M\} and Jo Iversen and Antonia Hufnagel and Line Hjort and Jodie Taylor and Clara Sanchez and Victoria George and Hansen, \{Ann N\} and Lars {\"A}ngquist and Susan Hermann and Craig, \{Jeffrey M\} and Signe Torekov and Christian Lindh and Hougaard, \{Karin S\} and N{\'o}brega, \{Marcelo A\} and Simpson, \{Stephen J\} and Romain Barr{\`e}s",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "7",

doi = "10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004",

language = "English",

volume = "37",

pages = "1950--1960.e2",

journal = "Cell Metabolism",

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Preston, JM, Iversen, J, Hufnagel, A, Hjort, L, Taylor, J, Sanchez, C, George, V, Hansen, AN, Ängquist, L, Hermann, S, Craig, JM, Torekov, S, Lindh, C, Hougaard, KS, Nóbrega, MA, Simpson, SJ & Barrès, R 2025, 'Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health', Cell Metabolism, bind 37, nr. 10, s. 1950-1960.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health

AU - Preston, Jessica M

AU - Iversen, Jo

AU - Hufnagel, Antonia

AU - Hjort, Line

AU - Taylor, Jodie

AU - Sanchez, Clara

AU - George, Victoria

AU - Hansen, Ann N

AU - Ängquist, Lars

AU - Hermann, Susan

AU - Craig, Jeffrey M

AU - Torekov, Signe

AU - Lindh, Christian

AU - Hougaard, Karin S

AU - Nóbrega, Marcelo A

AU - Simpson, Stephen J

AU - Barrès, Romain

PY - 2025/10/7

Y1 - 2025/10/7

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Reproduktion

KW - Fertilitet

KW - Kemikalier

KW - Hormoner

KW - sædkvalitet

U2 - 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004

DO - 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.08.004

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 40882621

SN - 1550-4131

VL - 37

SP - 1950-1960.e2

JO - Cell Metabolism

JF - Cell Metabolism

IS - 10

ER -

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

Abstract

Emneord

Adgang til dokumentet

Fingeraftryk

Projekter

Fornyet Fokus på Kemisk Arbejdsmiljø 2

Citationsformater