Does this explain the colorectal cancer epidemic in young Americans? Scientists prove the relationship between fast food and the formation of stomach tumors for the first time

A study suggests that high-fat diets could be driving the colorectal cancer epidemic in America among young adults.

Researchers at the Salk Institute and the University of California, San Diego, found that high-fat diets alter gut bacteria and alter digestive molecules called bile acids in mice.

These infections caused an increased chance of colorectal cancer, a cancer notoriously difficult to treat and expected to double in young adults by 2030.

Although it was only studied in mice, it may provide one of the first clues as to why colon and rectal cancer cases have soared in young Americans, which have doubled in the past two decades.

Other factors such as sugar, caesarean sections, and even fungal infections have also been described as possible causes.

Evan White is pictured above with his dog Lola and fiancée Katie Briggs. The couple began dating when Evan had cancer and got engaged when his condition was stabilized. However, he died after four years of fighting the disease

Marissa Maddox, pictured, was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 29. The disease rendered her sterile, depriving her of the chance to have the large family she had always wanted.

“The balance of gut microbes is shaped by diet, and we are discovering how changes in the gut microbiome (gut microbiome) can create problems,” said Dr. Ronald Evans, study author and director of the Salk Institute’s Gene Expression Laboratory. that lead to cancer.

“This paves the way toward interventions that reduce the risk of cancer.”

It’s not clear what specific foods the mice ate or how much fat was in them, but it’s safe to assume they were intended to mimic the high-fat foods that are staples of the American diet, such as fast food.

The study builds on previous research by Dr. Evans, which found that mice that ate high-fat diets had higher levels of bile acid.

Bile acids are molecules produced by the liver that help the intestines digest food and absorb cholesterol, fats, and nutrients.

The researchers suggested that the shift in bile acids turns off a key protein in the intestine called the Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which increases the spread of colorectal cancer.

In the new study, Dr. Evans and his team found that modified bile acids affected the production of stem cells in the gut. When these cells are not renewed frequently enough, they can cause mutations that encourage the growth of cancer cells.

They said high-fat diets alter the composition of the microbiome, which encourages the growth of bacteria that promote bile acid production. This creates a vicious cycle of inflammation.

“We’re just beginning to understand these bile acids associated with bacteria and their role in health and disease,” said study author Dr. Michael Downes.

“We’ve broken down the reasons why high-fat diets aren’t good for you, and identified specific strains of microbes that ignite with high-fat diets,” said Dr. Evans. “By knowing what the problem is, we have a much better idea of ​​how to prevent and reverse it.”

Data from JAMA Surgery shows that colon cancer is expected to rise by 90 percent in people ages 20 to 34.

The same data shows that rectal cancer will rise by 124 percent in the younger age group

Colorectal cancer rates are on the rise worldwide, causing an epidemic among young adults.

Rates are expected to double in young adults by 2030, and colorectal cancer is also expected to become the leading cause of cancer deaths in people under the age of 50 by the end of the decade.

This is based on data from Gamma surgeryWhich found that between 2010 and 2030, colon cancer will rise by 90% in people ages 20 to 34. Rectal cancer will rise by 124% in the same age group.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type in the United States and the third leading cause of death for both men and women.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 153,000 cases of colorectal cancer will be detected this year, including 19,500 among those under the age of 50.

About 52,550 people are expected to die from the disease.

Evan White, 24, of Dallas, was one of them. White had just graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in finance when he was diagnosed with colon cancer after ignoring his main symptom—fatigue—for several months.

The tumor was not detected until it had reached stage three, which means it had spread outside the colon, making it more difficult to treat.

He was on his way to marrying his girlfriend and moving to California, but his dreams were dashed when he died after a four-year battle with the disease.

Mr White’s mother, Dana, told DailyMail.com her then 24-year-old son’s diagnosis was “not something you would expect from someone so young”.

A 2020 survey by the Colon and Rectal Cancer Alliance found that many patients with symptoms of colorectal cancer were misdiagnosed or dismissed initially.

Marissa Maddox, a paralegal, is a survivor of illness, but she is denied the chance to have the large family she had always hoped for after a diagnosis of colon cancer at the age of 29 left her infertile.

Experts are still working to uncover the cause of this devastating epidemic.

They have usually blamed unhealthy diets, alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyles for the shift.

A study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic indicated that eating red meat and sugar can lead to an increased chance of colorectal cancer in young people.

However, some research indicates otherwise.

2021 StadyFor example, it found that patients with early-stage cancer were less likely to be obese or smoke than their older counterparts.

a A study published in April He studied how delivery by caesarean section affected the chance of developing colorectal cancer at its onset. The researchers found that females who delivered via caesarean section were more likely to develop colorectal cancer early in life than those who delivered vaginally. There was no association between males.

In addition, the use of antibiotics has been shown to affect this risk. One Stady Gut magazine found that long-term use of antibiotics increases the risk of early-stage colon cancer. However, it has also been associated with a reduced risk of rectal cancer.

One study showed that the fungus Cladosporium sp. It was more common in tumors in young patients than in older patients.

It is still not clear how Cladosporium sp. It can lead to this increase in cases, but researchers believe it can also lead to damage to a cell’s DNA. This may cause them to turn into cancerous cells.

These environmental factors have a lasting effect on the gut microbiome, which experts believe can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, even when exposure is limited early in life.

Part of what makes diagnosing colorectal cancer difficult are its symptoms, which are often attributed to other conditions. However, some stand out more than others.

A study published earlier this year in Journal of the National Cancer Institute The most frequently reported symptoms were abdominal pain, blood in the stool, diarrhea, and iron deficiency anemia.

Additionally, in a 2020 survey by Colorectal Cancer AllianceAnd 68% of the participants said they had blood in the stool. The average age of the participants was 42 years.

The same survey also found that many patients with symptoms of colorectal cancer were initially misdiagnosed or dismissed.

Going longer periods of time without a diagnosis can allow colorectal cancer to progress to later stages, making it more difficult to treat.

Amid concerns about the rising rate among younger adults, in 2021 the US Preventive Services Task Force lowered the screening age from 50 to 45.

This is usually a colonoscopy, in which a camera is inserted into the person’s rectum to look for growths or changes in the bowel