Association between red and processed meat consumption and colorectal cancer risk: a comprehensive meta-analysis of prospective studies
GeroScience · Jun 2025 · meta-analysis of prospective studies
This meta-analysis pooled 60 prospective studies to evaluate associations between red, processed, and total meat consumption and colorectal, colon, and rectal cancer risk. Higher intake of red, processed, and total meat was each associated with modestly increased hazard ratios for colorectal, colon, and rectal cancer in the pooled analyses.
Reported effects: Red meat - colon cancer HR 1.22 [1.15–1.3] · Red meat - colorectal cancer HR 1.15 [1.1–1.21] · +7 more
Key findings
- Red meat consumption was associated with increased risk of colon cancer (HR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.15-1.30), colorectal cancer (HR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.21), and rectal cancer (HR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.39).
- Processed meat consumption was associated with increased risk of colon cancer (HR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.07-1.20), colorectal cancer (HR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.14-1.28), and rectal cancer (HR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.30).
- Total meat consumption was associated with increased risk of colon cancer (HR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.11-1.35), colorectal cancer (HR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.12-1.22), and rectal cancer (HR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.10-1.48).
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jul 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text