Sausages, Sodas, and Cancer: Ultra-Processed Foods May Be Linked to Higher Lung Cancer Risk
A high intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, according to new research published in thejournal Thorax. While further studies are needed to confirm the findings across diverse populations, the researchers suggest that reducing consumption of these foods may help curb the global burden of lung cancer.
Lung cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with an estimated 2.2 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths reported in 2020 alone. Ultra-processed foods which are industrially manufactured, contain multiple additives, and are typically ready-to-eat or heat have already been linked to several chronic health issues. The current study sought to explore whether ultra-processed foods consumption could also be tied to lung cancer.
Researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trials, which enrolled 155,000 participants aged 55 to 74 between 1993 and 2001. Of these, 101,732 individuals who had completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire were included in the current analysis. Foods were categorized into four groups, with particular focus on ultra-processed foods such as sour cream, cream cheese, fried foods, margarine, soft drinks, pizza, and hot dogs.
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