Adults in the highest tertile of ultra-processed food consumption have significantly lower nutrient adequacy ratios for calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, thiamin, niacin, folate, and vitamin C than adults in the lowest tertile, after adjustment for age, sex, and energy intake.

When people eat mostly ultra-processed foods, they replace whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and dairy that naturally contain high levels of vitamins and minerals. These processed foods are designed to be shelf-stable and palatable, not nutrient-rich, so they lack calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, thiamin, niacin, folate, and vitamin C. As a result, the body receives less of these nutrients with every meal, leading to lower levels in the bloodstream and tissues over time.