Impact of Fortified Ultra-Processed Foods on Risk of Anemia: A New Perspective for Pediatric Nutrition

OBJECTIVES: Poor diet quality is a major risk factor for the development of anemia. An increased consumption of fortified ultra-processed food (UPF) among children presents a new contributor to micronutrient intake, one that could potentially improve anemia biomarkers despite having a concomitantly low diet quality. Our objective was to investigate the impact of fortified UPF consumption on the prevalence of anemia and diet quality among children from low-income families in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional analyses from a randomized field trial of children at 3 years of age (n = 432) from Porto Alegre, Brazil. Capillary blood samples were taken to measure hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and used to determine anemia status. Dietary data was assessed using two multiple-pass 24-h recalls and the consumption of UPF was classified according to the NOVA system. RESULTS: UPF account for 42.6% of total energy intake. Children in the highest tertile of UPF consumption had significantly lower risk of anemia (Hb