Ultra-processed food consumption, cancer risk and cancer mortality: a large-scale prospective analysis within the UK Biobank
Chang K, Gunter MJ, Rauber F, Levy RB, Huybrechts I, Kliemann N, Millett C, Vamos EP
EClinicalMedicine · 136 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Clinical events such as disease or death
- Intake measured by
- Food diaries or recalls
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- World Health Organization
- University or hospital
- Centre International de Recherche sur le Cancer
- Nonprofit
- World Cancer Research Fund International
- Nonprofit
- Cancer Research UK
- Government
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Nonprofit
- World Cancer Research Fund
- Grants
- Cancer Research UK (29678); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (16/14302-7); Cancer Research UK (C33493/A29678); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (29239); World Cancer Research Fund (IIG_FULL_2020_033); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (18/19820-1); World Cancer Research Fund International (IIG_FULL_2020_033)
Based on 6 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2023-01-31 · EClinicalMedicine · vol. 56 · p. 101840
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Cited
- 194 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 44.8× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 26 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Culinary Culture and Tourism · Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- Keywords
- Medicine, Biobank, Environmental health, Cancer, Consumption (sociology), Scale (ratio), Prospective cohort study, Gerontology, Internal medicine, Bioinformatics
8 authors
From GB, FR, BR, PT
- Kiara Chang · correspondingImperial College London
- Marc James GunterCentre international de recherche sur le cancer
- Fernanda RauberUniversidade de São Paulo
- Renata Bertazzi LevyUniversidade de São Paulo
- Inge HuybrechtsCentre international de recherche sur le cancer
- Nathalie KliemannCentre international de recherche sur le cancer
Abstract
Background
Global dietary patterns are increasingly dominated by relatively cheap, highly palatable, and ready-to-eat ultra-processed foods (UPFs). However, prospective evidence is limited on cancer development and mortality in relation to UPF consumption. This study examines associations between UPF consumption and risk of cancer and associated mortality for 34 site-specific cancers in a large cohort of British adults.
Methods
This study included a prospective cohort of UK Biobank participants (aged 40-69 years) who completed 24-h dietary recalls between 2009 and 2012 (N = 197426, 54.6% women) and were followed up until Jan 31, 2021. Food items consumed were categorised according to their degree of food processing using the NOVA food classification system. Individuals' UPF consumption was expressed as a percentage of total food intake (g/day). Prospective associations were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for baseline socio-demographic characteristics, smoking status, physical activity, body mass index, alcohol and total energy intake.
Findings
The mean UPF consumption was 22.9% (SD 13.3%) in the total diet. During a median follow-up time of 9.8 years, 15,921 individuals developed cancer and 4009 cancer-related deaths occurred. Every 10 percentage points increment in UPF consumption was associated with an increased incidence of overall (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04) and specifically ovarian (1.19; 1.08-1.30) cancer. Furthermore, every 10 percentage points increment in UPF consumption was associated with an increased risk of overall (1.06; 1.03-1.09), ovarian (1.30; 1.13-1.50), and breast (1.16; 1.02-1.32) cancer-related mortality.
Interpretation
Our UK-based cohort study suggests that higher UPF consumption may be linked to an increased burden and mortality for overall and certain site-specific cancers especially ovarian cancer in women.
Funding
The Cancer Research UK and World Cancer Research Fund.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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