SynthesisFrontiers in nutrition2026
Ultra-processed food intake and risk of digestive system cancers: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Ultra-processed food (UPF) intake has been associated with digestive system cancer risk, but evidence remains scattered across cancer sites, study designs, and exposure metrics. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated associations between UPF intake and digestive system cancer risk overall and by cancer site. We further examined UPF subcategories and dose-response relationships. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for English-language cohort and case-control studies published from database inception to May 1, 2026. Hazard ratios (HRs) from cohort studies and odds ratios (ORs) from case-control studies were pooled separately with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Additional analyses were conducted to investigate site-specific digestive system cancers, UPF subcategories, and dose-response relationships, alongside subgroup, sensitivity, meta-regression, and publication bias assessments. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261404299). Results: A total of nine prospective cohort studies and five case-control studies were included. The main pooled estimates showed a 12% higher risk in cohort studies (HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05-1.20; Conclusion: Higher UPF intake was associated with increased digestive system cancer risk, with relatively consistent evidence for colorectal and colon cancers. Ultra-processed meat/protein products may be a relevant contributing subcategory, and dose-response analyses suggested an exposure-response gradient. Because evidence came mainly from observational studies and dose-response data were limited, findings require confirmation in high-quality prospective studies. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261404299, identifier PROSPERO (CRD420261404299).
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