European Study Finds Modest Link Between Higher Processed Meat Intake and Stomach/Esophageal Cancer Risk

Researchers from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition tracked the diets and health records of 450,112 adults across Europe for an average of 14 years and reported that each additional 30 grams of processed meat consumed daily was associated with a 9 percent increase in overall stomach cancer risk after adjustment for other lifestyle factors.

The same increment was linked to a 13 percent rise in risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach. During the follow-up period, 876 participants developed stomach cancer and 215 developed esophageal adenocarcinoma.

The study group comprised 131,426 men and 318,686 women. Researchers separated stomach cancers by location, distinguishing tumors in the upper part of the stomach near the throat from those in the lower part, and classified tumors as intestinal type, which forms organized structures, or diffuse type, in which cells are more scattered.

An extra 20 grams of white meat such as chicken or turkey per day was associated with a 12 percent higher risk of cancer in the main body of the stomach.

Among male participants, only processed meat showed a statistically significant link to elevated stomach cancer risk; among female participants, both processed meat and white meat were associated with increased risk. A standard single slice of regular deli-sliced ham or lunch meat averages around 28 grams, according to USDA data.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified processed meat as a known human carcinogen, primarily because of its established connection to colorectal cancer, while health organizations have noted a less definitive potential relationship with stomach cancers.

The study relied on self-reported diets, a limitation the researchers said could affect accuracy in recalling meat consumption. The findings were published in the International Journal of Cancer. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers requesting comment but did not receive a response by publication.