Dhaka, May 21 -- Researchers have identified biological markers in blood and urine that may reveal how much ultraprocessed food (UPF) a person consumes, offering a more objective tool to study diet-related health risks, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine.

Led by Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute, the study is the first to pinpoint specific metabolites-byproducts of digestion-that correlate with higher intake of UPFs like sodas, chips, and frozen meals. These foods, which make up nearly 60% of the American diet, are associated with numerous health issues, but difficult to track through self-reported dietary data.

Using samples from more than 700 older U.S. adults, researchers developed a set of 28 blood a...