Consuming certain foods and drinks may put people at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a new study published in the journal Nutrients.
Researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China analyzed 139 dietary factors and their impact on the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC).
Participants included 118,210 people taking part in the long-term UK Biobank study – all of whom completed online questionnaires about their food intake.
PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER CAN FIND HOPE IN A NEW, FDA-APPROVED TREATMENT
After an average follow-up of 12.8 years, the researchers identified eight foods shown to influence colon cancer risk.
The first two, alcohol and white bread, were found to increase the risk regardless of genetic factors.
According to a new study just published, consuming certain foods and drinks may put people at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. (iStock)
Previous studies also linked alcohol to diabetes increased risk of cancer.
WHITE BREAD VS. WHOLE WHEAT BREAD: IS ONE ‘BETTER’ FOR YOU?
“Ethanol in any type of alcoholic beverage is a known risk factor for CRC because its first metabolite, acetaldehyde, has been assessed by the International Agency for Research as a human carcinogen,” the study authors wrote.
The risk from white bread is also consistent with previous studies, they noted.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among American adults.
“Whole grains in particular are an important source of many vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that have anticancer properties and may influence colon cancer risk through several possible mechanisms,” the authors wrote.
The other six dietary elements – fiber, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and carbohydrates – were all found to lower the risk of colorectal cancer, the researchers found.
The risk from white bread is also consistent with previous studies, because “whole grains are an important source of many vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that have cancer-fighting properties,” the study authors wrote. (iStock)
The other foods did not show any impact on CRC risk.
These results persisted after adjusting for factors such as family history, age, gender, socioeconomic disadvantage, and education.
Fox News Digital has contacted the study authors for comment.
“The findings of this study reaffirm the established link between lifestyle and dietary choices and the prevention of colorectal cancer.”
Misagh Karimi, MD, medical oncologist and colorectal cancer specialist at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine, Californiawas not involved in the study, but gave his reaction to its results.
“The findings of this study reaffirm the established link between lifestyle and dietary choices and the prevention of colorectal cancer,” he told Fox News Digital.
Previous studies have linked alcohol to an increased risk of cancer. (iStock)
“These findings highlight the critical importance of adopting one healthy lifestyle and dietary habits, including limiting alcohol consumption and choosing a diet rich in fiber-rich foods to reduce the risk of cancer,” Karimi added.
While the study doesn’t deny the importance of taking genetic factors into account in cancer risk, the doctor noted that it does highlight the impact that diet can have on cancer prevention.
DRINKING ALCOHOL WEEKLY MAY BE LINKED TO 61 DIFFERENT DISEASES, RESEARCH DISCOVERED
“This study also stands out for its size and design,” says Karimi.
“It involved a large sample population of 500,000 middle-aged people, a long follow-up period and a comprehensive assessment of dietary factors.”
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among American adults, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). (iStock)
However, the study had one important limitation.
“As the researchers state, the analysis was limited to a European population,” Karimi noted.
“To ensure the applicability of these findings to diverse populations, further studies are needed to validate these results on a broader population.”
COLORECTAL CANCER APPEARS IN YOUNGER PEOPLE AND IN ADVANCED STAGES: STUDY
Erin Palinski-Wade, op Based in New Jersey registered dietitian, also weighed in on the findings. She was not involved in the investigation.
“These results make sense because diets high in simple sugars, along with excessive alcohol consumption, may increase the risk of cancer, especially for those with an increased genetic risk of developing cancer,” she told Fox News Digital.
“However, it is important to remember that this study shows association, not causation,” she said.
A dietitian recommends looking at the full picture of a person’s diet and lifestyle behaviors over time to assess and improve risk factors. (iStock)
It is possible that someone who eats larger amounts of white bread will consume less whole grains and fiber overall, the dietitian points out.
“And since fiber reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, consuming a high-fiber diet may increase the risk, not the white bread itself,” she said.
REDUCE YOUR RISK OF COLON CANCER WITH REGULAR SCREENS
Of alcohol intakePalinski-Wade noted that the amount and frequency will have a significant impact on disease risk.
“Additionally, we don’t know what other lifestyle behaviors the people who regularly consumed alcohol in this study exhibited,” she said.
In 2023, 106,970 new cases of colon cancer and 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed. (iStock)
While the research highlights that eating more fiber and more whole grain foods may be beneficial in reducing cancer risk, Palinski-Wade noted that diet is not the only factor in cancer risk.
“Plus, one specific food, like white bread, won’t make or break your health,” she added.
“The overall nutritional quality of your entire diet, day by day, will have the biggest impact.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Although the dietitian recommends choosing whole grains over refined grains whenever possible, she says that doesn’t mean you need to avoid white bread altogether or that not eating it automatically lowers your risk.
“Instead, you should look at the complete picture of yourself nutritional and lifestyle behavior consistently over time to assess and improve your own risk factors,” she said.
A diet low in fruits, vegetables and fiber — or high in fat or processed meat — may contribute to a higher risk, according to the CDC. (iStock)
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among American adults, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
In 2023, 106,970 new cases of colon cancer and 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed.
While rates among older adults have declined in recent decades, they have increased among people under 50, increasing 1 to 2 percent annually since the mid-1990s, according to the ACS.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Dietary factors are known to contribute to a higher risk of these types of cancers.
A diet low in fruits, vegetables and fiber — or high in fat or processed meat — may contribute to a higher risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Alcohol consumption and tobacco use can also increase the risk, the health department said.
For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.