Ultraprocessed foods linked to 30% higher prostate cancer risk

A new study from Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine finds that men who consume the most ultraprocessed foods face a 30% higher risk of prostate cancer compared to those who eat the least. The research, published in The American Journal of Medicine, analyzed dietary data from 17,024 U.S. men aged 18 and older, drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2023 Source: lavozar.

The findings

Participants were divided into four groups based on the share of daily calories from ultraprocessed foods, using the Nova classification system. Men in the three highest consumption groups had a 29% higher risk of prostate cancer than those in the lowest group; when comparing the top two groups to the lowest, the increase was 30% Source: lavanguardia. The association persisted after adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, smoking, and economic status, with risk increases ranging from 24% to 31%. A possible 34% increase among the highest consumers did not reach statistical significance Source: lavozar.

Caveats and context

Lead author Charles H. Hennekens emphasized that the findings show an association, not causation, and called for larger observational studies and randomized trials to test the hypothesis Source: lavozar. Notably, a 2024 meta-analysis of six observational studies found no statistically significant link between high ultraprocessed food consumption and prostate cancer risk, highlighting the inconsistency in current evidence Source: lavozar. This study adds to a growing body of research linking ultraprocessed foods to various health issues, but experts caution that more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions Source: lavanguardia.