Association between ultra-processed foods intake and frailty risk in community-dwelling older adults.

The overall prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in the study was 26.1%.

• 96 out of 368 participants were classified as frail.
• The study sample had a mean age of 67.11 ± 6.21 years.
• 55.2% of participants were women.
• The study was conducted at health centers of Maragheh city in Iran.

Higher ultra-processed food intake was significantly associated with higher odds of frailty in multivariable adjusted logistic regression.

• OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.13–4.09, P = 0.019.
• UPF intake was categorized into tertiles.
• UPF intake was determined using NOVA classification based on a self-administered 147-item semi-quantitative FFQ.
• The model was adjusted for multiple covariates in multivariable logistic regression.

Among men, higher UPF intake was significantly associated with higher odds of frailty, but this association was not significant among women.

• In men: OR = 3.55, 95% CI: 1.20–10.51, P = 0.022.
• In women: P > 0.05 (not statistically significant).
• These findings were from subgroup analyses stratified by sex.

Higher UPF intake was significantly associated with the risk of exhaustion, particularly among men.

• Overall association with exhaustion: OR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.89–8.34, P < 0.001.
• Among men specifically: OR = 9.89, 95% CI: 3.10–31.60, P < 0.001.
• Among women: P > 0.05 (not statistically significant).
• Exhaustion is one of the components of frailty assessed in this study.

There were no significant associations between UPF intake and several other individual components of frailty.

• No significant association was found between UPF intake and risk of weight loss.
• No significant association was found between UPF intake and slowness.
• No significant association was found between UPF intake and dominant hand grip strength.
• No significant association was found between UPF intake and low physical activity.

The study used a cross-sectional design with body composition, physical activity, dietary, and blood parameter measurements.

• Body composition was measured by a body composition analyzer.
• Physical activity was assessed using the short-form physical activity questionnaire.
• Blood samples were collected for evaluation of blood parameters.
• 368 community-dwelling older adults were recruited from health centers.