Scottish scientists have linked consumption of high-energy snacks and drinks to bowel cancer.

In the study, dietary habits of more than 2,000 patients diagnosed with bowel cancer were studied and compared to the food and drink intake of a similar-sized healthy ­population.

The scientists, from Edinburgh and Aberdeen universities, looked at the data and found a statistical link between bowel cancer patients and high consumption of what they described as ‘high energy snack foods,’ covering a wide variety of food with high fat and sugar content including crisps, biscuits, cakes, chocolates, nuts and sweets while the sugar-sweetened drinks includes fizzy and fruit drinks, the Scotsman reported.

Lead author Evropi Theodoratou, of Edinburgh University’s School of Molecular Genetics and Population Health Science, said that her team found that the chances of acquiring colorectal cancer were 18 percent more if the person’s diet was high in high energy snacks and sugar sweetened beverages.

The study has been published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

BDST: 1549 HRS, JAN-02, 2014
Edited by: Sharmina islam, Lifestyle Editor