Florida Atlantic University Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Increased Prostate Cancer Risk in U.S. Men
A new study conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine has identified a consistent connection between high consumption of industrially processed foods and elevated rates of prostate cancer among American men. The study, published in The American Journal of Medicine, analyzed two decades of national health data from 17,024 adult men, collected between 2003 and 2023 through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants provided two 24-hour dietary recalls to establish their eating habits. The NOVA classification system, which categorizes food by its level of industrial processing, was used to sort the data. Men whose diets consisted of more than 44% of daily calories from ultra-processed foods faced a 29% greater risk of prostate cancer compared to those who consumed the least. This elevated risk remained between 24% and 31% even after accounting for factors such as age, race, smoking, and income. Ultra-processed foods, including pack...