Shocking Rise in Colon Growths Linked to Packaged “Convenience” Foods
Scientists at Mass General Brigham have found that a high intake of so‑called ultraprocessed foods may be connected to a substantial increase in precursors to early‑onset colorectal cancer. According to their research, those who eat large amounts of ready‑to‑eat foods filled with sugar, salt, saturated fat and food additives are significantly more likely to develop adenomas — growths in the colon or rectum that may become cancerous — by age 50.
The study tracked nearly 30,000 women born between 1947 and 1964, all of whom took part in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Each completed at least two lower‑endoscopy procedures before turning 50 and answered dietary questionnaires every four years about their consumption of ultraprocessed foods. Researchers found that participants who reported consuming about ten servings of these foods per day had a 45 percent higher risk of developing adenomas compared with participants whose intake was about three servings per day.
Adenomas are non‑cancerous polyps that form in the lining of the colon or rectum, but they are recognized as early‑warning precancerous lesions. Although benign themselves, they can indicate elevated risk of future colorectal cancer. The findings were published in JAMA Oncology.
