Cancer survivors who consume large amounts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may be at significantly higher risk of death, even if the cause is unrelated to the disease itself.
A new study by the American Association for Cancer Research links increased intake of these primarily convenience foods, high sugar, high salt, and high additives to an increased risk of all-cause cancer. Cancer-specific mortality.
“What people eat after a cancer diagnosis can influence survival, but most studies targeting this population have focused solely on nutrients and not on how food is processed,” lead author Marialaura Bonaccio, Ph.D., from the Epidemiology and Prevention Research Unit at IRCCS Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy, said in a press release.
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UPF is often low essential nutrients According to nutritionists, they contain additives, artificial flavors, preservatives, and high levels of sugar and unhealthy fats that your body may not process well.
“Substances involved in the industrial processing of food can interfere with the health of the food. metabolic processwhich disrupts the gut microbiome and promotes inflammation,” Bonaccio said.
“As a result, ultra-processed foods may have more harmful effects on the body, even if their calorie content and nutritional content are on paper comparable compared to minimally processed or ‘natural’ foods.”
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For the study, researchers followed more than 24,000 people from 2005 to 2022. Of this group, 802 cancer survivors provided dietary information through the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) questionnaire, according to a press release.
All participants were over 35 years old and lived in the Molise region of southern Italy.
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UPF was defined using the NOVA classification system, a widely used framework. classify food Based on the degree of industrial processing.
The researchers looked at seven specific categories of ultra-processed products, including processed meats, salty snacks, sweets, and dairy products with additives.
To measure intake, researchers used two metrics: weight ratio (total weight of UPF compared to all foods consumed each day) and energy ratio (percentage of daily calories that come from UPF).
During a median follow-up of 14.6 years, survivors with UPF intake in the top third by weight were 48% more likely to die from any cause and 57% more likely to die. mortality rate Researchers found that they were more likely to have cancer than those in the bottom third.
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The study also found increased inflammation and longer rest times. heart rate It accounted for approximately 37% of the association between UPF and mortality.
Even after researchers accounted for how closely people followed healthy lifestyle habits, the risks remained. mediterranean style meal.
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Some categories show stronger associations with mortality than others, but Bonaccio cautioned against fixating on a single “bad” food. Rather, he emphasized that the real problem is that we have a diet that consists primarily of highly processed, industrial foods.
“The negative health effects cannot be explained by nutrient deficiencies alone,” Bonaccio says. “The level and nature of industrial food processing itself plays an independent role.”
Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that cancer survivors check labels carefully, as foods with more than five ingredients or industrial additives are likely to be considered ultra-processed.
“The most meaningful approach is to focus on the whole diet and shift consumption to fresh, minimally processed, homemade foods,” Bonaccio advised.
The researchers acknowledged that the study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, had some limitations.
because, the study was observationalfailed to prove causation. It also relied on people reporting their own diet, which may not be completely accurate.
Because diet was measured approximately 8 years after diagnosis, the results may primarily reflect people who survived long enough to be included, which could skew the results. As the study population was Italian, it may not apply to the wider population.
