The relationship between sausage use and cancer development is found
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The experiment of scientists clearly indicated that sausages can be dangerous: even two sausages in a weekly diet can increase the risk of developing breast cancer in women.
Scientists analyzed information on the state of health of more than 260,000 patients, and found an unconditional relationship: with daily use of processed meat products in the amount of nine grams, the risk of breast cancer increases by more than 20%. Nine grams per day corresponds to about a pair of sausages a week.
It is noteworthy, but the relationship concerned exactly processed meat, as inclusion in the diet of ordinary red or white meat did not lead to such negative results.
One of the authors of the study, Jill Pell, who leads the Institute of Health at the University of Glasgow, notes that processed meat products have not been investigated for the first time. Such products include those that contain, in addition to meat, modified additives and flavor enhancers - such as sausages, canned meat, etc. Such food satisfies the person's taste, but has a detrimental effect on his health.
Three years ago, WHO issued official confirmation that processed meat products increase the risk of a colorectal tumor. This conclusion was made on the basis of analysis of more than eight hundred different-scale experiments that have scientific recognition.
A study conducted by Gil Pell and other scientists was to evaluate information on more than 260,000 patients, whose average age was 40-70 years. All participating women participated in the British Biobank project - this work was a close monitoring of the health of the population of the UK.
Dr. Pell applied the information obtained to compare the incidence of cancer with the nutritional characteristics of patients. All data were officially confirmed by the national cancer registry and case histories.
Within seven years, almost five thousand patients had breast cancer. The information made it possible to observe that eating more than nine grams of processed meat products per day increased the risk of breast cancer by 21%. Women who do not use sausage at all, fell ill with cancer much less often. The use of ordinary red meat did not affect the level of morbidity.
The results of the experiment did not change even if the experts connected to the study other factors, such as eating other food, lifestyle characteristics, body weight, etc.
"We were aware of the adverse effect of processed meat products on human health. However, we have now observed the additional risk of sausages for postmenopausal women - they have a risk increase of about 9%, "explains Professor Navid Sattar, representing the University of Cardiovascular Diseases in Glasgow.
The information is presented on the pages of the publication "European Journal of Cancer".