Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40598414›Full record

SynthesisGlobal health research and policy2025

Consumption of fast foods and ultra-processed foods and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mehdi Karimi, Reyhaneh Rabiee, Farnaz Hooshmand, Baharak Aghapour, Mina Ahmadzadeh, Elahe Havaei, Kimia Kazemi

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Global health research and policy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trends in Female Breast Cancer Incidence among Japanese, Korean, and US Populations: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2026
    Article
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  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mehdi KarimiFaculty of Medicine, Bogomolets National Medical University (NMU), Kyiv, Ukraine. Karimi9010@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-4388-0214
Reyhaneh RabieeDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Farnaz HooshmandFaculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Science, Gorgan, Iran.
Baharak AghapourDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mina AhmadzadehDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBUMS), Tehran, Iran.
Elahe HavaeiIslamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.
Kimia KazemiDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Islamic Azad University, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Amol, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe increasing consumption of fast foods (FFs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) worldwide has raised concerns due to their association with carcinogenic compounds and potential links to various cancers. However, this evidence about breast cancer risk remains inconsistent. This study aimed to meta-analyze the association between FFs and UPFs consumption and the risk of breast cancer in females.

methodsA comprehensive search on online databases was conducted from inception to May 2025, and relevant study data were extracted. The meta-analysis utilized odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) as effect size measures. Subgroup analyses, heterogeneity assessment, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure robustness. All statistical analyses were conducted using STATA.

resultsThe pooled analysis of 17 observational studies showed a significant association between the highest FFs and UPFs consumption and increased breast cancer risk (OR 1.25, 95% CI [1.09-1.43], p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant positive association between FFs and UPFs consumption and breast cancer risk in case-control studies, but not in cohort studies or menopausal status and a significant association was observed in studies with sample sizes > 1000 and < 1000. Furthermore, the association was significant in Latin America when BMI adjustment was considered for 'yes' and 'no'.

conclusionsThis meta-analysis identified a significant association between the consumption of FFs and UPFs and an increased risk of breast cancer, with high intake linked to a 25% greater risk. These findings suggest that diets high in UPFs may play a role in breast cancer development. As UPF consumption continues to rise, public health strategies and regulatory policies targeting food processing, marketing, labeling, and accessibility are essential for cancer risk reduction and prevention.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsDietFast FoodsFood HandlingFemaleFood, ProcessedHumansRisk FactorsBreast cancerEpidemiologyFast foodNutritionProcessed foodRisk

Identifiers

PMID40598414
PMCPMC12210537

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.