Eating more ultra-processed foods may raise prostate cancer risk by 30%

A recent study from Florida Atlantic University suggests that men who consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the U.S. and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer. The study, published in The American Journal of Medicine, analyzed data from 17,024 U.S. men aged 18 and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2023.

Researchers used the NOVA system to classify participants' consumption of UPFs, which are industrially produced foods high in refined fats, sugars, salts, and other additives. Participants were divided into four groups based on their UPF consumption, ranging from less than 20% to more than 44% of daily calories. Compared to those in the lowest UPF consumption group, men in the higher intake groups had a 29% greater risk of prostate cancer.

The association remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, race, smoking, and poverty status, with the increased risk ranging from 24% to 31%. The study's senior author, Charles H. Hennekens, emphasized the need for further research to confirm these findings. Previous research has linked UPF consumption with various health issues, including overweight, obesity, metabolic disease, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

The authors suggest that these findings add to growing concerns about the health impacts of UPFs and call for more extensive studies to fully understand the potential link to prostate cancer.