Ultra-Processed Foods High in Seed Oils May Be Linked to Colon Cancer Risk, Study Finds

Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images

Ultra-processed foods high in seed oils are linked to a higher risk of colon cancer, according to a new study published in the journal Gut.¹

Don't alter your eating and cooking habits just yet, though, because the link between seed oils and colon cancer is not so simple.

Seed oils include corn oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil, peanut oil, grapeseed oil, and cottonseed oil. The new study draws even more attention to these types of oils, which have recently been scrutinized.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who President-elect Trump has picked to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), took to Instagram to proclaim that seed oils are “one of the driving causes of the obesity epidemic.” Some TikTok users have also warned against consuming seed oils, citing a wide range of health risks.

Despite these claims, the new research is not as alarming as it seems at first glance.

“The study shows an association of high levels of omega-6 fatty acids with an increase in colon cancer growth,” said Heather Yeo, MD, MHS, colon and rectal surgeon and surgical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine. "These types of acids are usually found in seed oils, which are seen in some ultra-processed foods. [But] it is unclear if it is the foods that are eaten with these or the acids themselves."

Do Seed Oils Cause Colon Cancer?

The study's takeaway isn't that seed oils cause colon cancer. Yeo said that the researchers studied colon cancer samples from 81 patients and found certain types of "pro-inflammatory factors."

“These inflammatory markers were associated more commonly near the tumor, meaning these factors may cause inflammation¹," she added. While some seed oils contain these inflammatory factors, their presence might be due to how frequent seed oils are used in ultra-processed foods, Yeo explained.

Ultra-processed foods have already been linked to several cancers, including colorectal cancer.²

Isaksen IM, Dankel SN. Ultra-processed food consumption and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Nutr. 2023;42(6):919-928. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2023.03.018

Another important note? Researchers didn’t have dietary information about the study participants¹, said Robin Mendelsohn, MD, a gastroenterologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “This does not show that seed oils cause cancer,” she added.

Should You Cut Back on Seed Oils?

If a seed oil is part of your favorite recipes, this study shouldn’t deter you from making the dish.

“I don’t think we can make any conclusions about colorectal cancer risk and using seed oils from this paper,” Mendelsohn said. “It shows some preliminary molecular data but how that translates into the real world remains uncertain.”

Though you don’t need to cut seed oils out completely, they should generally be consumed in moderation, Yeo said. They contain omega-6s and omega-3s, which provide health benefits but shouldn’t be consumed in excess.

“The takeaway is to avoid continued exposure to ultra-processed foods and processed meats,” Yeo said. “Eat a high-fiber diet, and make sure the diet has a variety of foods.”

What Else Can You Do To Prevent Colon Cancer?

You can also cut colon cancer risk by limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, and getting your colorectal cancer screening, Mendelsohn said.³ People of average risk should start getting screened at age 45.⁴

It’s helpful to know the warning signs of colon cancer, which you should speak to a doctor about immediately. These include⁵:

• Any change in your bowel habits
• Blood in the stool
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Feeling that your bowel isn’t emptying all the way when you use the bathroom
• Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don’t go away
• Unexplained weight loss

Speak to a healthcare provider about any of the above symptoms no matter your age, as research has shown that young-onset colon cancer is on the rise.⁶

What This Means For You

A new study linked seed oils found in ultra-processed foods with colon cancer, but experts warned that there's no evidence seed oils cause colon cancer. The study shouldn't change people's dietary and cooking habits, and it is fine to consume seed oils in moderation.

Sources:

1. Soundararajan R, Maurin MM, Rodriguez-Silva J, et al. Integration of lipidomics with targeted, single cell, and spatial transcriptomics defines an unresolved pro-inflammatory state in colon cancer. Gut. December 2024. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332535
2. Isaksen IM, Dankel SN. Ultra-processed food consumption and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Nutr. 2023;42(6):919-928. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2023.03.018
3. American Cancer Society. Six ways to lower your risk for colorectal cancer.
4. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Screening for colorectal cancer.
5. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of colorectal cancer.
6. National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Why is colorectal cancer rising rapidly among young adults?

Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.verywellhealth.com by Maggie O'Neill where all credits are due. Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann

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