Health

Results of new Harvard-Tufts study link colorectal cancer in men to ultra-processed foods

Processed meats and products high in sugar and low in fiber contribute to weight gain and obesity, well-established risk factors.

Men who ate more ultra-processed foods had a 29% higher risk of developing the disease. colorectal cancer than men who consumed less ultra-processed foods, according to the results of a study published in BMJMore.

The same association was not found in women, according to researchers at Tufts and Harvard.

“We believe that colorectal cancer may be the cancer most affected by diet compared to other types of cancer,” said Lu Wang, a postdoctoral fellow in the Friedman School of Nutrition, Science and Policy at Tufts University. I started,” he said.

“Processed meats, most of which are classified as ultra-processed foods, are strong risk factors for colorectal cancer. is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer,” said Wang.

Researchers assessed dietary intake and analyzed responses from 159,907 women and 46,341 men in three prospective studies conducted over 25 years.

Individuals received a food frequency questionnaire every four years and were asked about the frequency of eating approximately 130 foods. Ultraprocessed food intake was categorized into quintiles from lowest to highest, with the highest being defined as having the highest risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Researchers found a clear association for men, but the study found no overall increased risk for women.

Additionally, the results of the analysis showed differences in how men and women consumed ultra-processed foods and the associated cancer risks.

Among the individuals who participated in the study, researchers noted 1,294 cases of colorectal cancer in men and 1,922 cases in women.

The researchers also found that the strongest associations between colorectal cancer in men and ultra-processed foods were in those who ate fish-based, meat, or poultry cooked foods. .

In addition, they found that consumption of fruit and sugary milk-based drinks and sugary drinks, such as soda, was also associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer in men.

“We found an inverse association between ultra-processed dairy products such as yogurt and colorectal cancer risk in women,” said cancer epidemiologist and Friedman School of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data. Fang Fang Zhang, MD, PhD, Interim Chair of the Science Division, said in a statement.

Further research is needed to determine whether there is a true sex difference in this association, the researchers said.

Although ultra-processed foods are often associated with poorer diet quality, there may be factors other than ultra-processed foods that can influence the development of colorectal cancer.

“Researchers are finding ways to improve overall health and reduce the burden of cancer by changing nutrition-related policies, dietary recommendations, recipes and formulas, combined with other healthy lifestyle habits. “It’s important that we continue to explore the relationship between cancer and diet, and potential interventions to improve outcomes,” Wang said.

reference

New study links ultra-processed foods to colorectal cancer in men. News release. EurekAlert. August 31, 2022. Accessed September 2, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/963134

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Results of new Harvard-Tufts study link colorectal cancer in men to ultra-processed foods