The link between the foods we eat and cancer risks

Scientists have investigated the link between increased colon cancer cases in young people revealing they have made a 'profound' discovery about the food we choose to eat.

The researchers compared 176 past scientific studies in an effort to uncover the specifics of just how six popular diets impact the gut microbiomes in humans.

They found that a Western diet high in sugar, saturated fat and processed foods had the biggest risk factors.

While a high fibre diet used to control diabetics' blood-sugar had a protective effect against changes linked to the cancer.

The study also raised a high degree of skepticism toward the health benefits of high-protein and ketogenic diets, often popular with health conscious athletes.

One microbiologist who worked on the new study called it 'a significant milestone' that provides 'tangible data' on how the microbiome is relevant health.

The research was published this week in the journal Nature Reviews Microbiology.

The categories of diet included: the Western diet, Mediterranean diet, high-fiber, high-protein, plant-based and ketogenic diets.

The Western Diet
The Western diet is the biggest risk factor with researchers saying it appeared to reduce the diversity of bacteria in the gut, leading to an explosion in Bacteroides species tied to obesity.

A Western diet — low in fiber, fruits and vegetables — also made it harder for the digestive system to breakdown any healthy fiber after it was eaten.

Western diet-eaters also had fewer bacteria species that produce short-chain fatty acids, the researchers said, which can help to reduce inflammation in the gut.

Chronic, or long-term, inflammation in the gut is concerning because it can lead to damaging mutations in cells, which increase the chance they become cancerous.

Ultra-processed foods like donuts, pizza and chips have previously been linked to a higher risk of inflammation and associated health risks.

Mediterranean diet

On the other hand, those following a Mediterranean diet — rich in fruits, vegetables and olive oil as well as green tea and protein-rich aquatic plants, like Mankai (duckweed) — had the best health outcomes overall.

High-fiber diet

The study found a high-fiber diet was protective against colon cancer, type-2 diabetes and inflammation specifically because it changed the mix of bacteria within the gut microbiome. 

It was found to lead to a 'substantial increase' in the populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria — which release beneficial compounds, like the short-chain fatty acids, that can reduce inflammation. 

Plant-based diet

The plant-based, or vegetarian, diet was also found to lower the risk of colon cancer because polyphenols in the plants prompted the growth of other beneficial bacteria.

The plant-based diet in particular showed a rise of one particular group of bacteria, of the genus Akkermansia, which help fight bacterial diseases, the researcher wrote.

High-protein diets

The team raised concerns over high-protein diets which include lots of red meat.

In their review, they noted that the breakdown of meat in the gut can lead to the release of hydrogen sulfide — which can cause damaging mutations to nearby cells.

'Our review highlights the profound impact of different diets on the gut microbiome,' the review's lead author Dr Catherine Stanton said in a statement.

'This understanding is crucial for developing dietary recommendations that promote health and prevent disease,' said Dr Stanton, who works for Teagasc, a public-private Irish state organization that studies food and agriculture.

'It's fascinating to see how dietary choices can influence the balance of micro-organisms in our gut,' she added, 'and their metabolic functions.'

Keto diet

Researchers called for more research into the ketogenic diet — or high fat diet — warning of a history of past studies that show it can cause sudden drops in populations of 19 different species of beneficial bacteria.

Rise in colon cancer

Researchers are desperate to understand the explosion in colon cancer cases among under-50s.

17,000 people each year under 50 years old are now developing the disease, that is nearly a 50 percent increase in the past two decades — from 12,000 cases annually in 1999.

Colon cancer rate among those in their late 20s and early 30s has risen by an estimated 70 percent over the same period. That's huge!

Scientists are puzzled why there has been a surge in cancers in young people — and have so far blamed everything from surging obesity rates to regularly eating processed food.

Another study has suggested an additive used in Red Bull and other energy drinks could fuel the growth of cancerous cells.

Food for health

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