The Effect of Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Physical Activity on Fatty Acid Profiles in Young Muslims in Melilla

Background: The consumption of ultra-processed foods among adolescents is high due to their widespread availability and accessibility and has been linked to an increased cardiometabolic risk. In the Autonomous City of Melilla, it has been observed that Muslim adolescents consume more of these foods than their Christian peers, which warrants an exploratory analysis of their potential association with fatty acid biomarkers. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted among 31 Muslim adolescents aged 15 to 17 years. The NOVA classification was used to identify the ultra-processed foods consumed, and the frequency of consumption, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and level of physical activity were assessed. Fatty acid composition was determined in serum, VLDL, and erythrocytes. Results: Ultra-processed foods accounted for 49.1% of total daily energy intake, and 71% of the participants showed very low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Saturated fatty acids predominated in VLDL, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids reached their highest levels in serum, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocytes. Furthermore, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was positively correlated with saturated fatty acids in erythrocytes and with n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in VLDL and negatively correlated with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocytes and VLDL. Conclusions: These findings suggest that more frequent consumption of these foods is associated with a less favorable fatty acid profile, which underscores the need for nutritional monitoring and preventive strategies tailored to the sociocultural context.