New Study Finds Link Between Ultra-Processed Foods and Head, Neck, and Esophageal Cancers
A recent large-scale study has uncovered a connection between increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and the risk of developing head, neck, and esophageal cancers. Surprisingly, the analysis did not attribute obesity, often a consequence of excessive UPF consumption, as a significant contributing factor. This emphasizes the crucial need to explore factors beyond body fat to understand this correlation.
UPFs are typically high in calories but low in nutrients, containing additives and uncommon ingredients. Examples of such foods are ice cream, ham, sausages, confectionery, breakfast cereals, biscuits, and carbonated drinks. Their consumption has also been linked to a higher risk of obesity.
Lead author Fernanda Morales-Bernstein of the University of Bristol spearheaded the investigation into the relationship between UPFs and the increased risk of head, neck, and esophageal cancers, while studying the participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study.
Evidence from the study published earlier this year demonstrated a positive association between UPF consumption and the risk of head and neck cancer, as well as esophageal adenocarcinoma. As the researchers delved deeper into these findings, they included 450,111 EPIC participants from 10 European countries, tracking them for approximately 14 years.
Results showed that a 10% increase in UPF consumption was linked to a 23% higher risk of head and neck cancer and a 24% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Moreover, body fat only played a minimal role in explaining the statistical connection between UPF intake and the risk of these types of upper-aerodigestive tract cancers.
Researchers have suggested that added emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, and contaminants from food packaging and manufacturing processes may play a more significant role in the association between UPFs and cancer than previously thought.
It is important to note that the researchers observed an unusual relationship between increased UPF consumption and a heightened risk of accidental death, indicating that there might be other underlying factors at play.
While there is still uncertainty about whether UPFs directly cause adverse outcomes, the newfound evidence points to the importance of considering factors other than body fat. Additionally, future research will address other mechanisms that may contribute to the cancer risks associated with UPF consumption.
The European Journal of Nutrition published the study and additional information can be found at the University of Bristol website.
