İstanbul'da özel bir üniversite öğrencilerinde aşırı işlenmiş besin tüketim sıklığı ve cilt otofloresansı (saf) yöntemiyle ölçülmüş İGSÜ miktarı arasındaki i̇lişkinin belirlenmesi

Ultra-processed food (UPF) intake accounts for a large proportion of total dietary energy and is associated with non-communicable diseases, considered harmful to health. At an industrial or commercial level, UPFs are exposed to high dry heat over a long period of time and, because they are rich in sugars and proteins, they undergo a Maillard reaction during heat processing, resulting in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between the frequency of UPF consumption and skin AGE levels among university students. The research population consists of 535 volunteer young adults aged 18 and over, who are studying at different faculties/schools at a foundation university in Istanbul between 2022-2023. The questionnaire form developed by the investigator and applied to the participants included sociodemographic characteristics, general health information, nutritional information, ultra-processed food consumption frequency questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, dietary recall questionnaire (24 hours). Anthropometric measurements were taken by the investigator and skin AGE levels were measured using the "AGE Reader" device. As a result of the study, it was found that İGSÜ levels showed a significant difference according to gender (p<0.05). The average AGE level of the participants was 1.4760 AU. The mean skin AGE levels were 1.4918 AU in females and 1.4485 AU in males. The correlations between UPF consumption percentage and AGE levels were not statistically significant (p>0.05). More studies investigating the relationship between UPF and AGE levels in the skin are needed.