Experts reveal key reasons behind concerning rise of colon cancer in young people
Poor eating habits may be at the root of the concerning rise of cancer diagnosis among people under 50 years old, according to a recent study.
A study lead by scientists has found certain eating habits may make individuals more at risk of colon cancer, which has been on the rise in people under 50.
Unveiling their findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) this past weekend, Ohio State University researchers explained that a combination of consuming too much sugar and not enough fiber causes the gut to produce a bacteria that “speeds up the aging” of cells.
This bacteria would make any individual’s system more vulnerable to potential cancer mutations and less able to defend itself against timor growths, according to preliminary research.
The scientists studied a sample of individuals under and over 50 years old diagnosed with colon cancer.
According to their findings, the younger individuals with diets low in fibre and high in sugar produced a type of bacteria called Fusobacterium, which increases inflammation throughout the gut.
Don't miss... 'Exciting' skin cancer vaccine halves risk of relapse or death in study [LATEST]
Inflammation has been previously shown to prematurely age cells, while fibre feeds healthy gut bacteria and lowers inflammation.
In their study, researchers claimed the cells of the patients with poor diets had aged up to 15 years more than their biological age, in a phenomenon called “inflammaging”.
“These suggest that pathogenic microbes may induce inflammation, which leads to accelerated aging in [early-onset colorectal cancer]”, the researchers wrote.
These findings come as recent data shows only nine percent of people in the UK currently consume the recommended 30 grams of fibre per day.
Don't miss...
Breast cancer drug denied on NHS gives incurable women 'precious extra time' [LATEST]
Warning as UK facing surge in cancer cases in under-50s due to common food [CANCER]
Breakthrough bowel cancer drug 'could triple survival chances' for patients [HEALTH]
Additionally, 24 percent more people under 50 being are being diagnosed with cancer in the UK in two decades, with doctors warning that modern diets may be to blame.
"Over recent decades, there has been a clear increase in cancer incidence rates in young adults in the UK”, cancer expert Professor Charles Swanton told the Daily Mail.
“Evidence suggests that more adults under 50 may be getting cancer than ever before. Although these cases are a small proportion of the overall population and still relatively uncommon, the trend is important, and it requires further investigation.
“Increased exposure to known as well as unknown cancer risk factors, changes to lifestyles and diets over time, and rising obesity may all contribute to the uptick."
