Meta-Analysis of Ultra-Processed Food Links to IBS and Dyspepsia

A systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes evidence from 10 observational studies involving 232,448 participants. It quantifies the association between ultra-processed food consumption and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia. The analysis was conducted by Shengkai Li and published in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Estimate pooled odds ratios for IBS and FD risk from high UPF consumption using the reported effect estimates (OR=1.32 for IBS, OR=1.26 for FD).
• Analyze heterogeneity in study outcomes using the reported I² statistics, particularly for subgroups like carbonated beverage consumption (OR=1.98).
• Assess potential publication bias by examining results from the Egger test (p=0.153) reported for IBS outcomes.
• Compare effect sizes across exposure types and assessment methods, such as studies using standardized NOVA classifications or quartile-based comparisons.

Strengths

• Aggregates data from 10 studies with a total sample size of 232,448 participants.
• Reports specific pooled effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals (e.g., OR=1.32 for IBS).
• Conducts subgroup analyses revealing specific associations, such as for carbonated beverages (OR=1.98).
• Uses random-effects models and sensitivity analyses to assess robustness of findings.

Limitations

• The finding for functional dyspepsia is based on only 3 studies and lost statistical significance in sensitivity analysis.
• Limited number of included studies (n=9 for IBS) may not definitively rule out publication bias.
• Evidence is derived solely from observational studies, which cannot establish causality.

Provenance

Source

Systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.

Collection Method

Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Time Range

Studies from database inception through December 2025.

Freshness

Last updated March 2026.

Geography

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