Popular products linked to increased risk of intestinal cancer

Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) may significantly increase the risk of early precancerous changes in the intestine.

As reported by BAKU.WS, scientists from Mass General Brigham came to this conclusion after analyzing data from nearly 30 thousand women: those who most frequently included UPF in their diet had a 45 percent higher probability of detecting adenomas - precursors of colorectal cancer. The study was published in JAMA Oncology.

The work is based on data from the Nurses' Health Study II - a large-scale project in which participants regularly underwent endoscopic examinations and completed detailed questionnaires about their diet over 24 years. On average, women received about 35 percent of daily calories from ultra-processed foods, but in the group with the highest consumption, this proportion was significantly higher. It was these participants who more often had adenomas associated with early development of colorectal cancer. And this connection persisted even after accounting for other risk factors - obesity, diabetes, and low fiber consumption. However, the researchers did not identify the influence of UPF on other, more slowly forming types of polyps.

The authors emphasize that the increase in cases of early intestinal cancer cannot be explained solely by dietary characteristics, but reducing the proportion of UPF in the diet can be an important step to reduce risk. Currently, the team continues to study other possible triggers of the disease and is working on a more accurate classification of ultra-processed foods, as the harm of different types can vary significantly.