Prospective cohort analysis of ultra-processed food consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma in the NIH-AARP Diet and health study

Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are widely consumed and have been linked to obesity and hypertension, two risk factors of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the clear cell (cc) subtype of RCC. Analysis in the cohort of the NIH-AARP Diet and health study evaluated the association between UPF consumption and risk of RCC. Among 480,347 participants with self-reported diet information (median age 62.6 years; 59.6% male; 91.3% White), the median UPF intake was 293 grams per day per 1000 kcal. During approximately 13 years of follow-up, there were 3330 RCC diagnoses, of which 1216 were ccRCC. Higher UPF consumption was associated with higher RCC risk (Q4 vs Q1 HR 1.16; 95% CI 1.05-1.29; p-trend= 0.0006) and higher ccRCC risk (1.38; 1.17-1.62; p-trend <0.0001). Associations were attenuated but remained statistically significant when adjusting for body mass index, diet quality, or hypertension status. The authors conclude that UPF consumption was associated with higher RCC and ccRCC risk.