Heme Iron From Meat and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and a Review of the Mechanisms Involved

High dietary ingestion of heme iron from meat may promote the development of colon cancer.

This study assessed the correlation between high dietary exposure to heme iron from meat and the propensity to develop colorectal cancer. Researchers conducted a meticulous meta-analysis on data extracted from 4,734 patients with colon cancer and 566,607 healthy individuals. 

Researchers noted that consistent consumption of heme iron from meat resulted in an 18% increase in the risk of colon cancer. This study suggests that greater intake of heme iron from meat is associated with higher risk of colon cancer.