Poultry such as chicken is one of the most widely consumed meats in the world and is often lower in fat than meat from other animals. But a study suggest that eating too much of it may increase risk of developing cancer — including more than doubling risk of gastrointestinal cancers.
Experts at Italy’s National Institute of Gastroenterology collected data from almost 5,000 people who completed food and drink questionnaires. They then divided people into four categories depending on how much poultry they ate.
Those who ate more than 300g — around four servings — per week had a 27% higher risk of dying from all cancers than those who ate less than 100g per week.
And when it came to gastrointestinal cancers such as bowel, stomach and pancreatic cancer, risk appeared to more than double.
The researchers wrote in the journal Nutrients: “Our study showed that white meat consumption above 300 g/week was associated with a statistically significant increased mortality risk from all causes and gastrointestinal cancers.
“The risk was higher for men than for women. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings and learn more about the effects of processed poultry.”
A link between red meat and higher risk of certain types of cancer, particularly bowel cancer, is well known.
However, the experts noted that previous research had found conflicting evidence about the effects of poultry.
They noted that cooking protein-rich doos at high temperatures for a long time could release substances that cause DNA changes.
The study paper said: “Chicken, in the breast cut, has a protein content of 23.3 g/100 g.
“We can assume that white meat cooked at high temperatures or for a long period (e.g., griddling, barbequing, stewing) also forms high levels of mutagens, which could have an important role in gastrointestinal cancer pathogenesis.”
The authors added: “Further studies are needed to investigate this association in more detail and confirm the finding.”