Diet and nutrition play immense roles in our health. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for example, researchers discovered an association between colorectal cancer and eating red meat. 

“Hasn’t that been discovered in the past?” you might ask.

Well, the short answer is yes: prior research and observation has suggested a potential link between red meat and colorectal cancer. But now, researchers determined that a certain mutation indicative of alkylation (a form of DNA damage) was significantly linked to eating red meat. The genetic impact of alkylation? Those genes are actually associated with driving this form of cancer. Check out the full study findings published in Cancer Journal.

Alkylation

In prior studies, researchers determined that red meat was carcinogenic, which means that it has the potential to damage the genome or cause cancer. However, researchers did not understand why red meat was carcinogenic.

This recent study addressed the impact of diet in a new way. In the past, researchers would use observation and surveys from patients who had already been diagnosed with cancer. Within this new study, patients monitored and tracked their diet regardless of cancer or health status. For example, some patients did not have cancer and didn’t know if they would one day develop cancer. This allowed researchers to make a clearer link between eating red meat and colorectal cancer incidences.

During this, researchers discovered the mutation associated with alkylation. While not all mutations caused cancer, and some were even seen in the colons of healthy patients, the alkylating signature was linked to both red meat consumption and colorectal cancer diagnoses. Heightened alkylation is associated with 6+ oz of red meat daily.

However, for all of you meat eaters – this does not mean you need to stop eating red meat entirely! Rather, this specific mutation could be a helpful diagnostic tool. Doctors could screen patients and, if the mutation is found, recognize that this patient might be at a higher risk of developing cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to patient outcomes in a variety of conditions or cancers. Thus, using this research to treat patients with colorectal cancer, or who could develop this cancer, could be incredibly beneficial.

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer may also be referred to as colon, bowel, or rectal cancer. In short, colon cancer is any cancer affecting the colon and rectum. It typically begins as benign polyps outside of the colon. However, over time, these polyps become malignant. Thus, early screenings from a medical professional could help identify and treat patients before their condition becomes malignant. Risk factors for developing colorectal cancer include age (50+), a personal history of cancer or a family history of colorectal cancer, being African-American, being obese, smoking cigarettes or using alcohol, having diabetes, or eating a low-fiber and high0fat diet. In many cases, colorectal cancer symptoms do not appear until later stages. Symptoms include:

• General malaise (fatigue, body weakness, lethargy)
• Unintended weight loss
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Diarrhea, constipation, or another change in bowel habits
• Bloody stool
• Rectal bleeding
• A feeling of un-emptied bowels

Learn more about colorectal cancer.