Excessive Sausage Consumption Increases Colon Cancer Risk by 40 Percent

Prof. Dr. Uğur Coşkun stated that in a study conducted in the USA, it was found that individuals who consume excessive amounts of red meat have a 30 percent higher risk of colon cancer, while those who consume excessive amounts of processed foods such as salami and sausage have a risk exceeding 40 percent. Prof. Dr. Uğur Coşkun, a faculty member in the Department of Medical Oncology at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, spoke about colorectal cancer. He said that many events were organized in March to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. Prof. Dr. Uğur Coşkun emphasized that one of the most important factors increasing the risk of colon cancer is the Western dietary habits and stated that red meat, sausage, and salami, among processed foods, should not be consumed excessively.

Excessive sausage consumption increases colon cancer risk by 40 percent Coşkun added that with the study published in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention journal, the problem of why red meat and processed foods do not cause colon cancer in everyone has been elucidated. He said, “This study included 29,482 cases of colon cancer and 39,635 cancer-free control cases. In this study, it was found that individuals who consume excessive amounts of red meat have a 30 percent higher risk, while those who consume excessive amounts of processed foods such as salami and sausage have a risk exceeding 40 percent. In the detailed genomic analysis conducted in this study, it was determined that the HAS2 and SMAD7 genes are responsible for the relationship between excessive consumption of red meat-processed foods and colon cancer. Individuals with the additional HAS2 gene had a 38 percent higher risk of colon cancer, while those with SMAD7 had an 18 percent higher risk. In conclusion, this study has the potential to explain why some people develop colon cancer while consuming excessive amounts of red meat or processed foods, while others do not. When this study is further developed and the findings are confirmed with new studies, it may be possible in the near future to identify who is at risk of colon cancer from red meat and processed foods and who can consume these foods more safely.”