Ultra-processed foods linked to cancer risk and nutrient deficiencies

New research highlights significant health risks associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), including increased cancer risks and nutrient deficiencies.

A study from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, published in The American Journal of Medicine, found that men with higher UPF consumption face increased risks of prostate cancer. Analyzing data from over 17,000 men in the United States via the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2023, researchers observed that men in the highest consumption groups had a 29% to 30% greater risk of prostate cancer compared to those with the lowest intake.

Additionally, a systematic review of studies indexed in PubMed found that higher intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with lower levels of essential nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. The review noted that these findings were based on cross-sectional studies involving children, pregnant women, and lactating women, meaning they show associations rather than direct causation.

In the United States, UPFs—which include packaged snacks, fast food, and sugary drinks—account for nearly 60% of adult and 70% of children’s energy intake.