Posted on Diabetes, Patient Talk

Replacing ultra-processed foods in diet lowers type 2 diabetes risk

An Italian research by the I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed shows that the consumption of highly processed foods, often industrially manufactured, increases the risk of death for people with type 2 diabetes, regardless of the nutritional quality of their diet

A new study led by researchers at UCL finds that people who eat more ultra-processed foods (UPF) are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but this risk can be lowered by consuming less processed foods instead.

The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe in collaboration with experts from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, examined the connection between the extent of food processing and the risk of type 2 diabetes. It also examined which types of ultra-processed foods (UPF) posed the highest risk.

The team analysed UPF intake and health outcomes for 311,892 individuals from eight European countries over an average of 10.9 years, during which time 14,236 people developed type 2 diabetes.

They discovered that a 10% increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with a 17% rise in the risk of type 2 diabetes, but this risk can be reduced by opting for less processed foods instead.

The highest-risk UPF groups were savoury snacks, animal-based products such as processed meats, ready meals, and sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages, suggesting that particular attention should be paid to these foods to help tackle ill health.

The degree of food processing is commonly evaluated using the Nova classification. This classification divides foods into four groups:

1. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods (MPF), such as eggs, milk, and fruit.

2. Processed culinary ingredients (PCI), such as salt, butter, and oil.

3. Processed foods (PF), including tinned fish, beer, and cheese

.4. Ultra-processed foods, such as ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat mixed dishes, savoury snacks, sweets, and desserts.

The specific reasons for the connection between UPF and type 2 diabetes are not confirmed, although several factors are believed to be involved, including overconsumption and weight gain. In a prior study, supported by new analysis in this study, it was found that increased body fat contributed to about half of the association.

Samuel Dicken, the first author of the study from the UCL Division of Medicine, stated, “We are aware that ultra-processed foods are linked to a higher risk of certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. As anticipated, our findings validate this connection and demonstrate that a 10% increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.”

“Most studies to date have only considered ultra-processed foods (UPF) as a whole. However, we suspect that there may be different health risks associated with different types of UPF, and the risks of other processing groups have not been well researched. Our analysis goes further than previous studies by examining all four processing groups in the Nova classification to assess the impact on type 2 diabetes risk when substituting UPF with less processed foods. Additionally, we are looking at nine subgroups of UPF to better understand their impact.”

Replacing UPF with less processed foods was linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

In the study, researchers from UCL analyzed data from the EPIC study, which investigated the relationship between diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors, and the incidence of chronic diseases in more than half a million Europeans over time.

Additional analysis was conducted to separate UPF into nine subgroups to better understand the impact of processing level on type 2 diabetes risk.

The researchers also performed substitution modelling on the data to see how replacing one Nova food group with another would affect type 2 diabetes risk, alongside analyzing how eating UPF affected a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The results showed that substituting 10% of UPF in the diet with 10% of MPF/PCI reduced type 2 diabetes risk by 14%.

When 10% of ultra-processed food (UPF) in the diet was replaced with 10% of processed food (PF), the risk of diabetes decreased by 18%. The authors suggest that this could be due to the fact that 30-50% of processed food intake in the study came from beer and wine, which have been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in a previous EPIC study. Processed food also includes salted nuts, artisanal breads, and preserved fruits and vegetables.

Analysis of the nine UPF subgroups indicates that savoury snacks, animal-based products, ready meals, and sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages are linked to a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Consuming large amounts of these less healthy foods increases the overall risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Among the top 25% of highly processed food consumers, where highly processed foods made up 23.5% of their total diet, sweetened beverages alone contributed to almost 40% of their highly processed food intake and 9% of their overall diet.

However, UPF breads, biscuits, breakfast cereals, sweets, desserts, and plant-based alternatives were associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Professor Rachel Batterham, the senior author of the study from the UCL Division of Medicine, stated, “The subgroup analysis of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in this study has been revealing and confirms that not all foods classified as UPF pose the same health risks.”

“Breads and cereals, for example, are a staple of many people’s diets. Based on our results, I think we should treat them differently than savory snacks or sugary drinks in terms of the dietary advice we provide.”

Posted on ADHD, Mental health, Women's Health

Significant impact of partners’ ADHD on women’s mental health and quality of life new study reveals

Is it ADHD - click here to find out!

A new study brings attention to the often-overlooked challenges faced by women in relationships with partners diagnosed with ADHD. The research reveals that the partners’ ADHD symptoms are associated with higher rates of depression and lower quality of life in women. However, women who engage in health-promoting activities experience fewer depressive symptoms and improved well-being. The findings suggest that ADHD treatment should not only focus on the individual with ADHD but also consider the well-being of their partners, offering new opportunities for supportive interventions. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects and develop targeted solutions.

A recent study by researchers Dana Zeides Taubin, Haya Fogel-Grinvald, and Prof. Adina Maeir from the School of Occupational Therapy at Hebrew University brings attention to the often overlooked experiences of women in relationships with partners diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The research investigates the link between partners’ ADHD symptoms and women’s mental health and quality of life, providing valuable insights for both clinicians and couples.

The study’s results show that:

  • Women partnered with individuals diagnosed with ADHD may face an increased risk of depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life.
  • Partners with ADHD who have more difficulties in daily functioning are linked to higher levels of depression in women and a lower quality of life for them.
  • Engagement in health-promoting activities (HPA) by women is positively linked to their quality of life and negatively associated with depressive symptoms.
  • Women partnered with individuals diagnosed with ADHD may face an increased risk of depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life.
  • Partners with ADHD who have more difficulties in daily functioning are linked to higher levels of depression in women and a lower quality of life for them.
  • Engagement in health-promoting activities (HPA) by women is positively linked to their quality of life and negatively associated with depressive symptoms.

This research has important implications for clinical practice and emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive approach to treating adult ADHD. Clinicians are encouraged to take into account not only the individual diagnosed with ADHD but also the experiences and well-being of their partners.

The study suggests that integrating health-promoting activities into therapeutic approaches may benefit partners of individuals with ADHD. This discovery creates new opportunities for developing tailored supportive interventions for this often overlooked group.

Posted on Disability, Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis -key biomarkers that predict disability discovered

A pioneering study presented today at ECTRIMS 2024 has identified critical biomarkers that can predict disability worsening in multiple sclerosis
A pioneering study presented has identified critical biomarkers that can predict disability worsening in multiple sclerosis.


His breakthrough research can potentially transform treatment strategies for millions of MS patients worldwide, paving the way for more personalised and effective treatment plans.

In a multicenter observational study conducted across 13 hospitals in Spain and Italy, Dr. Enric Monreal and his team discovered that elevated serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels, a protein indicating nerve cell damage at the onset of MS, can predict both relapse-associated worsening (RAW) and progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA). Furthermore, they found that serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) levels, a protein derived from astrocytes that enter the bloodstream when the central nervous system (CNS) is injured or inflamed, correlate with PIRA in patients with low levels of safety.

Key findings reveal that higher sNfL levels, indicative of acute inflammation within the CNS in MS, are associated with a 45% increased risk of RAW and a 43% increased risk of PIRA. Patients with high sNfL levels often did not respond well to standard disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) but showed significant benefits from high-efficacy DMTs (HE-DMTs) such as Natalizumab, Alemtuzumab, Ocrelizumab, Rituximab, and Ofatumumab.

In contrast, patients with high sGFAP levels—which indicate more localised inflammation driven by microglia in the CNS—and low sNfL levels experienced an 86% increased risk of PIRA. This group did not respond to current DMTs.

Interestingly, while sGFAP is known to be associated with progression, high sNfL levels limited the ability of sGFAP to predict this outcome. Specifically, sGFAP values were predictive of PIRA only in patients with low sNfL levels.“”The discovery of sNfL and sGFAP as predictive biomarkers enables us to customize treatment plans for MS patients more effectively,” says Dr. Monreal, a researcher in MS at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital and the study’s lead author. “Patients with low levels of both biomarkers have a positive prognosis and can be treated with injectable or oral DMTs. However, high sNfL levels indicate a need for HE-DMTs to prevent disability progression, while patients with high sGFAP levels and low sNfL values may require new therapeutic approaches. These distinct pathways in MS have significant therapeutic implications, as current DMTs primarily target the peripheral adaptive immune system without affecting CNS immunity. Therefore, identifying patients with higher levels of peripheral inflammation is crucial for preventing disability and improving patient outcomes.”

“The results of this study underscore the critical need for personalised treatment approaches to effectively manage the millions of people affected by MS worldwide, many of whom have chronic disability that significantly impacts their quality of life,” says Dr. Monreal.

“By measuring both sNfL and sGFAP levels at disease onset, we gain valuable insights into the progression pathways of MS, enabling clinicians to identify the optimal patients for specific DMTs. This approach aims to prevent disability while avoiding unnecessary treatment-related risks for those at lower risk.”