A new Government-funded study has suggested that common cooking oils used by millions of Britons could be contributing to a worrying surge in colon cancer cases among young people.
Research published in the journal Gut has found that seed oils – including sunflower, canola, corn and grapeseed varieties – may be fuelling one of the fastest-growing forms of the disease.
The groundbreaking study, conducted by researchers at the University of South Florida, analysed tumour samples from more than 80 cancer patients.
Scientists discovered high levels of bioactive lipids, which are microscopic fatty compounds produced when the body breaks down seed oils, in the samples.
The groundbreaking study, conducted by researchers at the University of South Florida, analysed tumour samples from more than 80 cancer patients (Stock)
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Seed oils have become increasingly prevalent in modern diets, with the average person consuming nearly 100 pounds annually – a thousand-fold increase since the 1950s.
The research team examined 81 tumour samples from colorectal cancer patients aged between 30 and 85 years old and more than half of the studied patients had advanced stage three or four cancer.
Scientists found significantly higher concentrations of bioactive lipids compared to healthier fats within the tumours.
The study has suggested that these oils may be particularly problematic due to their high omega-6 fatty acid content.
Researchers explained that these oils can be dangerous in two distinct ways: first, they promote inflammation which helps cancers grow and develop and, secondly, they prevent the body’s natural defences from fighting the tumours effectively.
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The inflammation process causes cells to constantly split and regenerate in the colon, making them more susceptible to cancer-causing mutations.
Chronic inflammation also weakens the immune system’s ability to destroy abnormal cells.
The study has noted that when seed oils are consumed, they undergo a complex biochemical process, forming compounds called eicosanoids – a type of bioactive lipid that has been linked to inflammation in the colon.
Dr Timothy Yeatman, study author and professor of surgery at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, said: “It is well known that patients with unhealthy diets have increased inflammation in their bodies.”
The American study has followed President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Robert F Kennedy Jr as health secretary, who has said that Americans are “unknowingly poisoned by them”, referring to the oils.
The American study has followed President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Robert F Kennedy Jr as health secretary, who has said that Americans are “unknowingly poisoned by them”, referring to the oils
ROBERT F KENNEDY
“We now see this inflammation in the colon tumours themselves, and cancer is like a chronic wound that won’t heal.”
The researchers have recommended switching to healthier alternatives like olive and avocado oil, as Yeatman added: “This has the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment, moving beyond drugs to harness natural healing processes.”
“It’s a vital step toward addressing chronic inflammation and preventing diseases before they start.”
The findings come amid alarming projections for colon cancer rates among young people, while experts have started to predict diagnoses among people under 50 years old will rise dramatically by 2030.
Specifically, cases in people aged 20 to 34 are expected to increase by 90 per cent compared to 2010 levels.
While no single cause has been definitively identified, ultra-processed foods are believed to be a significant factor, which typically contain fats, sugars and other chemicals that contribute to inflammation in the digestive tract.
