Pharma
Study Shows Possible Link Between Ultra-Processed Foods and Colon Cancer
New research links highly processed foods to pro-inflammatory processes and a higher risk of colon cancer.
Research findings suggest that inflammation-promoting fatty acids, commonly found in ultra-processed foods (UPFs), are detectable in increased amounts in colon tumors. The study, published in the journal Gut, provides new evidence on how dietary habits might influence cancer risk.
Scientists analyzed 162 tumor samples from patients at Tampa General Hospital and found high levels of lipids that promote inflammation in the cancer cells. These lipids are typical components of highly processed foods. At the same time, the tumors showed a deficiency of anti-inflammatory lipids, such as those found in foods like fish or nuts.
When the body lives on highly processed foods, the ability to heal inflammation is suppressed. This supports tumor growth," explained Timothy Yeatman, co-author of the study and Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with 1.9 million new cases and 900,000 deaths in 2022. Particularly alarming: In the USA, diagnosis rates in people under 55 have been increasing by 1 to 2 percent annually since the 1990s.
An earlier study from 2022 already indicated that the consumption of UPFs in men is associated with a higher risk of colon cancer. In women, specific groups of highly processed foods showed similar effects.
The food industry criticizes the study situation and emphasizes that causal links between UPFs and health risks have not been proven. Nevertheless, experts like Dipak Panigrahy from Harvard Medical School underline the importance of these findings: "A precise diet that reduces inflammation could be a new method for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
He recommends a diet that balances highly processed foods with healthy alternatives like fatty fish, seeds, and nuts.
The discussion about the influence of UPFs is likely to gain further significance with the possible appointment of Robert Kennedy as the US Health Secretary. Kennedy has blamed the food industry for rising obesity rates and is calling for stricter regulatory measures.
