Total Ultra-Processed Food Intake Is Not Linked to Colorectal Cancer Incidence

Total intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) was not associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in a cohort of older adults, according to research published in PLOS Medicine.

However, processed meat was associated with increased CRC incidence, and foods that were major sources of calcium, dairy, fiber, or whole grains were linked with a reduction in CRC incidence, study researchers reported.

In this cohort study, the researchers evaluated associations between UPFs and dietary factors linked to CRC. The analysis included 461,682 US adults aged 50-71 years who were cancer free at the time that they enrolled in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study in 1995-1996.