Significantly higher risk of early-onset colorectal cancer for 80M+ Americans with this hidden disease

Colorectal cancer diagnoses among younger people have skyrocketed in recent years. A staggering 20% of cases in 2019 were in people younger than 55, up from 11% in 1995.The trend is particularly scary because doctors are still trying to figure out what’s causing it — and symptoms so often fly under the radar.But a new study has revealed a shocking relationship between early-onset colorectal cancer and a common condition that affects millions of Americans.The study, conducted by a research team in Korea, included over one million subjects under age 50 categorized into three populations: those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), those without, and those with borderline NAFLD.As the name implies, NAFLD is marked by excess fat in the liver of people who consume little or no alcohol.The primary cause is obesity, along with metabolic risk factors such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea.NAFLD is present in 75% of people who are overweight and in 90% of those who are severely obese.

It is the most common form of childhood liver disease in the US.Impacting between 80 million and 100 million American, NAFL is known as the “silent epidemic” because it often has no symptoms or nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, and abdominal pain.“Although common, NAFLD is often hidden or missed in routine medical care,” Dr.

P.Barton Duell, writing chair of the American Heart Association said in a statement.The Korean research team found that people under the age of 50 with a history of NAFLD were nearly 24% more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer compared to those without the condition.Those diagnosed as borderline had a 12% higher chance of developing the cancer compared to those without a history of NAFLD.They found a more substantial risk among men, people aged 20-29, and people without diabetes.

Early-onset colorectal risk was observed only in the left colon and rectum.Though the research...