Colorectal Cancer Linked to Greater Red Meat Intake, Poor Educational, Heavier Alcohol Use

A new study found that several non-genetic factors are linked to the increased cases of colorectal cancer in people younger than 50. these factors include greater red meat intake, lower educational attainment, and heavier alcohol use.

Scientists noticed that the incidence rates of early-onset colorectal cancer have nearly doubled in the past two decades from 1992 to 2013, wherein it becomes from 8.6 to 13.1 per 100,000 people.

The study, "Nongenetic Determinants of Risk for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer," in JNCI Cancer Spectrum is published by Oxford University Press on May 20.

Increased Colorectal Cancer Cases in Younger People

The team has observed that incidences of colorectal cancer in the US, Canada, and Australia have increased particularly those people born since the 1960s.

SciTech reported that during this period there have been major changes in diets among the younger generation across developing countries. People have started to eat fewer fruits, non-potato vegetables, and calcium-rich dairy sources.

However, they started eating more processed foods, such as meats, pizza, macaroni and cheese, and soft drinks. As a result, the average unit intake of fiber, folate, and calcium among Americans has also become lower than the recommended levels.

This is a concerning change in diet especially because there is an increase in colorectal cancer cases, which is also concerning. Researchers said that this type of cancer has worse outcomes in younger people than those diagnosed in older groups, that is why screening for colorectal cancer is started at a younger age.

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Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors

According to EurekAlert!, previous studies past have outlined various risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer. These are greater consumption of processed meat, reduced consumption of vegetables and citrus fruits, high BMI, sedentary lifestyle, heavier alcohol use, smoking, reduced aspirin use, and diabetes.

But there is no comprehensive, large-scale evaluation comparing the magnitude of these risks to late-onset colorectal cancer as of yet, as well as an assessment of whether these risks are correlated with specific types of colorectal cancer.

Researchers looked at the data from 13 population-based studies involving over 3,000 cancer patients and more than 4,000 controls in people below 50 years old and nearly 23,500 colorectal cancer patients and over 35,000 controls in people aged 50 and above.

They found that early-onset colorectal cancer was linked to irregular use of aspirins, greater red meat intake, poor education, heavier alcohol use, and also alcohol abstinence. They also discovered that lower total fiber intake was linked more strongly to rectal than colon cancer.

Other risk factors relating to colorectal cancer include a history of diabetes, lower folate, dietary fiber, and calcium intake. Interestingly, researchers found that BMI and smoking habits were not some risk factors in the early-onset group in contrast to the late-onset group.

"This first large-scale study of non-genetic risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer is providing the initial basis for targeted identification of those most at risk, which is imperative in mitigating the rising burden of this disease," says Richard Hayes, the senior investigator for this research, according to Devidiscourse.