{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T12:16:15Z","timestamp":1785413775719,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784246400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003593","name":"National Council for Scientific and Technological Development","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["174543\/2025-5"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["174543\/2025-5"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003593","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["174543\/2025-5"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["174543\/2025-5"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03swz6y49","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Medical Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are characterized by high levels of additives such as sugars, fats, and preservatives and, due to their composition, represent a major public health concern, being associated with several adverse effects, including impacts on the immune system. People living with HIV (PLHIV) present immune dysfunctions resulting from viral infection and may therefore be particularly vulnerable to the effects of UPF consumption. In this context, investigating this association is necessary to support healthcare strategies and improve assistance for PLHIV. Objective: To investigate the relationship between UPF consumption and the lymphocyte profile of PLHIV. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. PLHIV receiving outpatient follow-up care for at least six months participated in the study and were categorized according to UPF consumption (\u22642 times\/week; &gt;2 times\/week). Sociodemographic data, UPF consumption assessed through a food frequency questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, and blood samples were collected. Association, comparison, and correlation tests were performed, with statistical significance set at p &lt; 0.05. After adjustment, lymphocyte percentage remained independently associated with UPF consumption. Results: A total of 92 PLHIV participated in the study, with a mean age of 43.0 \u00b1 12.0 years. PLHIV with higher UPF consumption presented lower counts of CD3+ lymphocytes (p = 0.03), CD45+ lymphocytes (p = 0.01), and total lymphocytes (p = 0.03) compared to those with lower UPF consumption. UPF consumption was negatively correlated with CD3+ (r = \u22120.21; p = 0.04), CD4+ (r = \u22120.20; p = 0.05), CD45+ (r = \u22120.23; p = 0.02), and total lymphocyte counts (r = \u22120.25; p = 0.01). No associations were found between sociodemographic or clinical variables and UPF consumption among PLHIV (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: High UPF consumption was associated with lower lymphocyte counts in PLHIV, suggesting a potential association between dietary patterns and immune status. Therefore, the implementation of public health policies and nutritional follow-up is necessary to reduce UPF consumption and promote healthy eating among PLHIV.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/medsci14030399","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,20]],"date-time":"2026-07-20T06:09:09Z","timestamp":1784527749000},"page":"399","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Association Between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Lymphocyte Profile in People Living with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-4855-2074","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sofia Morais","family":"Tornis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Nutrition and Exercise (LABINE), Federal University of Jata\u00ed, Jata\u00ed 75801-615, Goi\u00e1s, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0658-7693","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David Michel","family":"de Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Nutrition and Exercise (LABINE), Federal University of Jata\u00ed, Jata\u00ed 75801-615, Goi\u00e1s, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4821-445X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"F\u00e1bio Morato","family":"de Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, Federal University of Jata\u00ed, Jata\u00ed 75801-615, Goi\u00e1s, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0280-0151","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luiz Rodrigo Augustemak","family":"de Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Physical Education and Sport, Federal University of Alagoas, Macei\u00f3 57072-970, Alagoas, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6609-7683","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mayara","family":"Bocchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Nutrition and Exercise (LABINE), Federal University of Jata\u00ed, Jata\u00ed 75801-615, Goi\u00e1s, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0876-2491","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eduardo Vignoto","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Nutrition and Exercise (LABINE), Federal University of Jata\u00ed, Jata\u00ed 75801-615, Goi\u00e1s, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tjnut.2022.09.001","article-title":"Identifying and Estimating Ultraprocessed Food Intake in the US NHANES According to the Nova Classification System of Food Processing","volume":"153","author":"Steele","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. 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