A study led by researchers from the University of Bristol and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) indicates a potential link between consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and an increased risk of developing cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, such as the mouth, throat, and esophagus.
The study, which involved the diet and lifestyle analysis of 450,111 adults over a 14-year period, challenges previous beliefs that obesity associated with the consumption of UPFs was the sole contributing factor to the risk of cancer. Rather, the study suggests that there may be additional factors at play.
Previous research pointed to a connection between UPF consumption and cancer, prompting researchers from the Bristol Medical School and IARC to delve deeper into this link. The team sought to determine if the association between UPF consumption and head and neck cancer and oesophageal adenocarcinoma could be attributed to an increase in body fat. The results of the analysis indicated that a 10% increase in UPF consumption was associated with a 23% higher risk of head and neck cancer and a 24% higher risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. However, increased body fat accounted for only a small proportion of the observed link between UPF consumption and the risk of these upper aerodigestive tract cancers.
Lead author Fernanda Morales-Berstein, commented on the findings, remarking that while UPFs have been associated with excess weight and increased body fat, the link between consuming UPFs and upper aerodigestive tract cancer didn’t appear to be greatly explained by body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio.
The study’s findings, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, suggest that other mechanisms may be involved in the observed association, such as additives like emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners, as well as contaminants from food packaging and manufacturing processes.
Despite possible biases impacting the outcomes, the study underscores the need for further research to explore the connections between UPF consumption and upper aerodigestive tract cancers. Dr. Helen Croker, Assistant Director of Research and Policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, emphasized the importance of a healthy diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and beans in light of the association between increased UPF consumption and a heightened risk of developing upper aerodigestive tract cancer.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence linking UPFs and cancer risk, and the findings suggest a need for further research to explore these connections.
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