Women who regularly consume ultra-processed foods (UPF) have a higher risk of developing a debilitating autoimmune disease, a study suggests.
In one trial, those who ate a diet high in these foods (which are packed with artificial sweeteners and preservatives) were 56 percent more likely to get lupus, which causes joint pain, skin rashes and fatigue.
And those who regularly consumed artificially sweetened beverages and sugary foods also had a 45 percent higher risk of developing the disease.
The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard University in the US, also found there was no connection between obesity and lupus, suggesting artificial ingredients in UPFs are to blame.
UPFs, such as prepared meals, ice cream and some frozen foods, have previously been linked to a range of potentially fatal diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
Women who regularly consume ultra-processed foods (UPF) are at higher risk of developing a debilitating autoimmune disease, a study suggests (File image)
In one trial, those who ate a diet high in these foods, which are packed with artificial sweeteners and preservatives, were 56 percent more likely to develop lupus, which causes joint pain, rashes and fatigue (File image)
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a long-term disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the body.
Studies have shown that around one in 1,000 people in the UK have lupus, and 90 per cent of those affected are women.
Although its causes are not fully understood, it has previously been linked to viral infections, certain medications, sunlight and menopause.
But Harvard research, published in the medical journal Arthritis Care And Research, suggests there may be a correlation between the disease and eating foods containing artificial colors, sweeteners and preservatives.
However, Professor Gunter Kuhnle, from the University of Reading, warned that the research may not be conclusive.
“Ultra-processed foods may be one of the risk factors[for lupus]but there are likely other factors that may be more important,” she explained.
‘People with a high consumption of fats and sugars are more likely to suffer from other conditions.
“They are already less healthy and that may be one of the reasons why this group of women is developing lupus.”