Consumption of highly processed foods: Effects on bioavailability and status of zinc and copper in adolescents

► Adolescents consumed diets with different Maillard reaction products (MRP) content. ► The effects of MRP on zinc and copper bioavailability and status were examined. ► MRP-rich diets does not affect zinc but negatively affects copper bioavailability. ► No differences were found in the biomarkers of zinc status with the MRP-rich diet. ► Copper in serum and erythrocytes significantly decreased with the MRP-rich diet.