Recent studies suggest a troubling link between diets laden with ultra-processed foods and inflammatory seed oils and the onset of chronic inflammation, factors that may contribute to colorectal cancer development.
This groundbreaking research paves the way for an innovative therapeutic approach called resolution medicine, which emphasizes the use of natural products rather than synthetic drugs to combat inflammation and potentially treat colorectal cancer.
Dietary Links to Colorectal Cancer
In the United States, colorectal cancer ranks as the second leading cause of deaths attributed to cancer.
New evidence points to dietary habits as a critical player in this health crisis.
Researchers from the University of South Florida (USF) and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute have identified a connection between the typical Western diet—loaded with ultra-processed food and unhealthy oils—and persistent inflammation, a condition that can encourage tumor growth.
With a generous $3.1 million funding from the National Institutes of Health, this five-year investigation aims to deepen our understanding of colorectal cancer.
The study begins by examining how the intake of processed foods may hinder the body’s natural healing processes.
Anticipated results will be featured in Gut, a respected journal devoted to gastroenterology and hepatology.
Research Findings and Implications
Dr. Timothy Yeatman, a distinguished physician-scientist and professor at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, emphasized the significant relationship between poor dietary practices and enhanced inflammation in the body.
He equated cancer to a chronic, unhealing wound, highlighting how a diet high in ultra-processed foods can impair the body’s ability to heal.
The inflammation caused by such diets can suppress the immune system, ultimately facilitating cancer progression.
Yeatman urged individuals to scrutinize the standard components of a Western diet, which typically includes elevated levels of added sugars, unhealthy fats, ultra-processed foods, and inflammatory seed oils.
Research from the USF Health Heart Institute has previously shown that an imbalanced diet influences not just colorectal cancer but also various other significant health issues such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart disease.
Ganesh Halade, an associate professor at the USF Health Heart Institute and a contributor to the Cancer Biology Program at the TGH Cancer Institute, elaborated on the body’s innate ability to manage inflammation.
This process relies on bioactive lipid compounds sourced from healthy fats.
Unfortunately, when these lipids stem from processed foods, they can disrupt immune function and incite chronic inflammation.
Resolution Medicine and Nutritional Approaches
Employing advanced analytical methods, Halade detected small but significant levels of these lipids in 162 tumor samples collected from Tampa General Hospital patients.
The collaborative effort, which included multiple USF and TGH Cancer Institute programs, ensured these tumors were quickly frozen and sent to the lab for examination.
The team discovered a high concentration of pro-inflammatory molecules within the tumors, alongside a notable lack of compounds necessary for healing and resolving inflammation.
These findings highlight the potential of resolution medicine, a nutritional approach that seeks to reestablish a balance of nutrients and improve colorectal cancer treatment outcomes.
Yeatman noted that a well-functioning immune system can greatly affect the tumor environment, providing advantages if harnessed properly for overall health.
Yet, when exposed to inflammatory lipids from processed foods, this function can weaken.
Resolution medicine focuses on combating inflammation by promoting a diet rich in healthy, minimally processed foods containing omega-3 fatty acids and specialized pro-resolving mediators sourced from fish oil.
Alongside this, maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes adequate sleep and exercise is essential.
According to Yeatman, this fresh strategy may revolutionize cancer therapy by emphasizing the body’s natural healing capabilities over pharmaceuticals.
He believes this approach is crucial for managing chronic inflammation and creating proactive measures against disease.
Initial trials have revealed promising results for using specialized derivatives from fish oil to address inflammation at its root.
Ongoing efforts at the TGH Cancer Institute will further explore how resolution medicine can enhance patient care and facilitate preventative health initiatives.
Examples of beneficial, minimally processed foods include crab, salmon, halibut, spinach, Brussels sprouts, seaweed, algae, and grass-fed meats.
On the flip side, common ultra-processed items like ice cream, sausages, chips, mass-produced bread, breakfast cereals, doughnuts, soft drinks, instant soups, and certain alcoholic beverages should be avoided for better health outcomes.
Source: ScienceDaily