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Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods associated with increased prostate cancer risk, study finds

A study of more than 17,000 U.S. men found that high intake of ultra-processed foods was linked to a 24% to 31% higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 13:21 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Researchers at Florida Atlantic University linked higher ultra-processed food consumption to a 24% to 31% increase in prostate cancer risk among U.S. men.
  • The analysis evaluated dietary data from 17,024 adult men collected via the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2023.
  • Researchers noted that ultra-processed foods currently account for nearly 60% of adult daily calories in the U.S.
  • The study authors called for large-scale observational studies and clinical trials to confirm the findings and test potential biological mechanisms.

Key facts

  • A study published in The American Journal of Medicine analyzed dietary data from 17,024 U.S. adult men participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2023.[ScienceDaily]
  • Men consuming higher amounts of ultra-processed foods faced a 24% to 31% increased risk of prostate cancer after researchers adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, smoking status, and poverty level.[ScienceDaily]
  • Ultra-processed foods make up nearly 60% of daily calories for adults and roughly 70% for children in the U.S.[ScienceDaily]
  • The American Cancer Society estimates more than 333,000 U.S. men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2026, with over 36,000 expected deaths from the disease.[ScienceDaily]

What remains uncertain

  • Researchers stated that additional large-scale observational studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm whether ultra-processed foods directly cause prostate cancer.[ScienceDaily]
  • A potential 34% increase in prostate cancer risk observed in the absolute highest intake group did not reach statistical significance, which authors suggested could be due to a smaller sample size of cancer cases in that subset.[ScienceDaily]

Sources