How childhood diet may lead to a rise in bowel cancer among young adults
Image: IOL Ron AI
New evidence suggests that what we eat in childhood - particularly diets high in sugar and ultra-processed foods-may cause serious health issues decades later, including colorectal (bowel) cancer.
Lifestyle choices, such as high intake of sugary drinks, alcohol, and processed foods, have already been linked to a rise in young-onset colorectal cancer.
However, new research raises the possibility that early-life environmental and biological factors, including microbial activity in the gut, could be playing an even more influential role than previously thought.
Scientists have shed new light on a bacterial toxin called colibactin that may further explain the rapid rise of this cancer in younger adults, especially those exposed early in life.
According to a new report published in Nature, the global incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer - defined as occurring in individuals under the age of 50 - has doubled in the past 20 years.
If this trend continues, bowel cancer is expected to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in young adults within the next few years.
An international research team analysed tissue samples from 981 patients across 11 countries, looking for cancer-driving mutations in the DNA.
In over half of the early-onset cases, scientists found mutation patterns linked to colibactin, a toxin produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli (e. coli) in the gut. These mutations, often referred to as 'molecular scars,' point to early-life exposure as a potential cause.
'These mutation patterns are a kind of historical record in the genome, and they point to early-life exposure to colibactin as a driving force behind early-onset disease,' explains Professor Ludmil Alexandrov, a computational biologist at the University of California San Diego.
Although the exact source of this early exposure remains unclear, researchers believe it most likely occurs within the first ten years of life, possibly through gut infections involving colibactin-producing bacteria.
Once the toxin damages the DNA in the bowel, it can set in motion a process that leads to cancer years, or even decades, later.
The study found that DNA mutations associated with colibactin were more than three times as common in patients diagnosed before the age of 40 compared to those diagnosed at 70 or older.
Older adults were more likely to exhibit DNA changes linked to natural ageing rather than bacterial exposure.
'If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer - getting it at 40 instead of 60,' says Alexandrov.
Scientists are also investigating how the risk factors for colorectal cancer may vary from country to country.
'There may be unknown causes specific to certain regions,' says Dr Marcos Díaz-Gay of Spain's National Cancer Research Center, that could lead to more targeted, localised prevention strategies.
IOL Lifestyle
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Study raises growing danger of foodborne diseases after Cape Town restaurant outbreak
Urgent calls for enhanced hygiene practices across the food industry have been made following findings from a recent study in the Public Health Bulletin South Africa. Image: Pexels / Eric Montanah Last year's outbreak of foodborne illness at a Cape Town restaurant has prompted urgent calls for improved hygiene practices and staff training across the food industry, following the release of a study published this week in the Public Health Bulletin South Africa (PHBSA). The February 2024 outbreak affected 46 people, including 12 restaurant staff and 34 patrons. Laboratory tests confirmed 33 of the cases were caused by Shigella species or enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), both of which can cause severe stomach illness. Shigella species refer to a group of bacteria responsible for causing shigellosis, which is a diarrheal illness. Lead investigator Janine Bezuidenhoudt said the incident illustrates the growing danger of foodborne diseases in South Africa. 'Globally, 600 million people fall ill and 420,000 die every year after consuming contaminated food. Low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable, with 137,000 people dying annually in Africa,' she said. She noted that the increase in foodborne illnesses this year contributed to the declaration of a national disaster. 'Restaurants, tuck shops, and fast-food establishments can all be sources of these illnesses,' Bezuidenhoudt said. Inspections at the restaurant revealed poor food storage practices, including overstocked cold storage and failure to use the 'first-in, first-out' method. Although the precise source of contamination could not be confirmed, investigators believe it was likely caused by either a contaminated food item or an infected food handler. 'I hope this study continues the conversation about the risk and importance of foodborne diseases and how they can be prevented. We urgently need national Shigella guidelines to guide outbreak responses,' Bezuidenhoudt said. She also urged people to seek medical care when ill. 'It is crucial for individuals with foodborne illness to seek healthcare for proper diagnosis and treatment, including specimen collection,' she said. According to the Notifiable Medical Conditions system, 437 foodborne outbreaks were reported between 2022 and 2024, but underreporting remains a concern. The public is reminded to practise good food hygiene by washing hands, cleaning surfaces and utensils, separating raw and cooked food, and cooking food thoroughly to at least 75°C. The PHBSA is a joint initiative of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the National Institute for Occupational Health. THE MERCURY
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Man dies in freak accident after being pulled into MRI by magnetic force
A man died in MRI mishap after his metal chain was pulled into machine. Image: IOL Ron AI A routine MRI scan turned fatal for 61-year-old Keith McAllister, who died after being pulled into a magnetic imaging machine while wearing a 9kg metal neck chain. The freak incident occurred at Nassau Open MRI in Long Island, New York, while his wife was undergoing a knee scan. According to a GoFundMe post created by McAllister's stepdaughter, Samantha Bodden, the tragedy unfolded when an MRI technician asked McAllister to help his wife off the imaging table, but allegedly failed to instruct him to remove the chain. As he stepped into the MRI room, the powerful magnetic field yanked him towards the machine, leaving him pinned for close to an hour. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'While my mother was laying on the table, the technician left the room to get her husband to help her off the table. He forgot to inform him to take the chain he was wearing from around his neck off when the magnet sucked him in,' wrote Bodden. Despite desperate attempts by the technician and McAllister's wife to free him, they were unsuccessful. Emergency services were called, but it was too late. McAllister reportedly suffered multiple heart attacks as a result of the incident and succumbed to his injuries. MRI machines contain extremely strong magnets, and safety protocols require that all metal objects, including jewellery, implants, and even certain clothing items, can be removed before entering the scanning room. Metal objects not only pose a risk of being pulled toward the machine but can also heat up and cause burns. While such accidents are extremely rare, they are not unprecedented. In 2001, a 6-year-old boy died in a New York hospital after an MRI machine's magnet pulled in an oxygen tank, causing a fatal head injury. More recently, in 2023, a man in India died under similar circumstances after entering an MRI room with a metal oxygen cylinder. IOL Lifestyle Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
18-07-2025
- IOL News
Foodborne illness outbreak in Cape Town restaurant prompts calls for improved food safety
Environmental health inspections revealed issues including overstocking of cold storage and non-compliance with the "first-in, first-out" principle at a Cape Town restaurant. Image: Supplied Food handling practices and inadequate hygiene among staff members may have contributed to the spread of a foodborne disease (FBD) outbreak resulting in the closure of a Cape Town restaurant. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) yesterday released the findings of an investigation into circumstances leading to 46 suspected cases of Shigella spp. or enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) - closely related bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, in humans. Shigella spp. is highly contagious and can result in asymptomatic infection to severe bloody diarrhoea. Fever, headache, malaise and vomiting are often the initial symptoms. The report details how on February 8, 2024, the Western Cape Provincial Communicable Disease Control Co-ordinator received a notification from the NICD concerning a potential FBD outbreak linked to a restaurant. 'At approximately 10pm, a general practitioner (GP) informed the NICD of two patients who had presented at his practice with severe diarrhoea and high temperatures. The patients reported that they were a party of five, all of whom had consumed prawns during dinner at (the) restaurant." Three of these patrons were admitted to private hospitals with gastrointestinal symptoms. The GP also informed the restaurant of the cases via email. The City Health Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) were informed on February 9, 2024, and an outbreak investigation and response was initiated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The outbreak investigation and response were conducted to confirm the existence of an outbreak, identify additional cases, identify the source of the outbreak, and implement control measures. On February 10, 2024, two of the hospitalised patients tested positive for Shigella spp./Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.' Overall, 46 suspected cases were identified: 12 staff members and 34 patrons. Clinical specimens (stool or rectal swabs) were collected from 49 individuals, and 33 tested positive for Shigella spp./Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) - 6 patrons and 27 staff members. Following the incident, an environmental health inspection was done. Ultimately researchers concluded that food handling practices and inadequate hygiene among staff members may have contributed to the spread of enteric pathogens during the outbreak. Environmental health inspections revealed issues including overstocking of cold storage and non-compliance with the "first-in, first-out" principle. While a definitive source of contamination could not be identified, contaminated food or a food handler was likely responsible. The closure of the restaurant and prompt public and environmental health actions prevented the occurrence of additional cases. Following investigations, several interventions were implemented, including retraining of staff members on food safety, chemical safety, and effective hand and personal hygiene. The restaurant was deep-cleaned and disinfected, researchers said. Lead investigator Janine Bezuidenhoudt said: 'Restaurants, tuck shops, and fast-food establishments can all be sources of these illnesses. I hope this study continues the conversation about the risk and importance of foodborne diseases and how they can be prevented. We urgently need national Shigella guidelines to guide outbreak responses. It is also crucial for individuals with foodborne illness to seek healthcare for proper diagnosis and treatment, including specimen collection.' Cape Times
