Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Increased Risk of Early-Stage Bowel Polyps in Women,Study Finds
Boston,MA – A new study published in JAMA Oncology suggests a potential link between high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and an increased risk of early-onset conventional adenomas – a type of bowel polyp – in women. Researchers analyzing data from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study II found that women who consumed the most UPFs had a 45% greater risk of developing these polyps compared to those with the lowest intake.
The study, led by Dr. Chan and colleagues, examined data from 29,105 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II, which began in 1989 and included female nurses born between 1947 and 1964. Participants completed food questionnaires every four years starting in 1991, detailing their consumption of various food items over the previous 12 months.
Researchers followed the participants until June 2015, by which time all had reached the age of 50. During this period,1,189 cases of early-onset conventional adenomas and 1,598 cases of serrated lesions (another type of polyp) were recorded. Participants were divided into five groups based on UPF consumption, with the highest-consuming group averaging 9.9 servings a day, compared to 3.3 servings a day for the lowest-consuming group.
Notably, the increased risk was observed specifically for conventional adenomas; no association was found between UPF consumption and the advancement of serrated lesions.
The study acknowledges limitations, including reliance on participant recall of food intake, challenges in accurately classifying foods as UPFs, and the fact that it did not directly assess the development of bowel cancer. ”It doesn’t suggest that if you eat UPFs, that you are inevitably going to develop cancer,” Dr. Chan clarified. “but it’s a piece of the puzzle in terms of what might be driving underlying cancer rates.”
Researchers propose several potential mechanisms linking upfs to polyp development, including associations with metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation, and alterations in gut microbes and the gut lining. Dr. Chan noted further research is needed to determine if these findings apply to men.
Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, emphasized the study’s value in understanding how diet can influence early changes in the bowel.”Our overall diet matters more for cancer risk than any single food type,” Osgun stated, advocating for policy changes to improve access to healthier food options.
