Too Much Chicken? Study Links High Poultry Intake to Early Death from Digestive Cancers
New Delhi: Chicken has long been promoted as a healthier alternative to red meat, but a new study suggests that regularly eating poultry could raise the risk of early death from digestive system cancers.
The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Gastroenterology in Italy, is based on a 20-year analysis of health data from 4,869 adults living in Italy.
The findings showed that the risk of developing cancers of the digestive system, including oesophageal, stomach, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancers, was higher among men than women.
Poultry meat, mainly chicken, is among the most widely consumed meats worldwide. Its affordability and accessibility have contributed to its high global consumption.
Earlier studies had suggested that chicken, as a lean source of protein, posed a lower risk of contributing to cardiovascular diseases and some gastrointestinal cancers compared to red meat.
However, the new study, published in the journal Nutrients, found that individuals who ate more than 300 grams of poultry per week had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal cancer development and early death. The risk of death was found to be 27 per cent higher among people consuming over 300 grams of poultry per week compared to those eating 100 grams or less.
"In our opinion, it is important to learn more about the long-term effects of this food category, white meat, that is widely consumed by the world population who, perhaps mistakenly, consider it healthy in absolute terms," said the researchers.
"We believe it is beneficial to moderate poultry consumption, alternating it with other equally valuable protein sources, such as fish. We also believe it is essential to focus more on cooking methods, avoiding high temperatures and prolonged cooking times," they added.
The team emphasized that further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to better understand the effects of processed poultry consumption.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.