Rising Cases of Colorectal Cancer Among Young Adults: Is Diet to Blame?
Colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in young adults, prompting scientists to investigate potential dietary causes. Researchers from Ohio State University (OSU) have been examining how diets high in fat and low in fiber, often referred to as the “Western diet,” can affect the digestive system and increase the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. Their findings, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago, indicate that this diet disrupts the balance of gut bacteria, leading to inflammation and accelerated cellular aging, thereby making cells more susceptible to cancer. Biological Age Discrepancies In their study, OSU scientists discovered a significant discrepancy between the biological and chronological ages of early-onset colorectal cancer patients. On average, these patients were biologically 15 years older than their actual ages, a stark contrast to late-onset colorectal cancer patients, whose biological and c...