Fruits and Vegetables and Lung Cancer Risk in Never Smokers. A Multicentric and Pooled Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Nutritional Science
• Oncology

Background:

• Lung cancer etiology in never-smokers remains incompletely understood.
• Investigating dietary factors, specifically fruit and vegetable intake, is crucial for understanding lung cancer risk in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between the consumption of various fruits and vegetables and the risk of developing lung cancer among individuals who have never smoked.
• To identify specific dietary components that may influence lung cancer development in non-smokers.

Main Methods:

• Pooled analysis of five multicenter case-control studies conducted in Northwestern Spain.
• Inclusion of only never-smoker cases with confirmed lung cancer diagnoses and never-smoker controls.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption patterns on lung cancer risk.

Main Results:

• Weekly consumption (1-6 times/week) of kiwis, oranges, turnip tops, "berza gallega," and broccoli was associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer compared to less than weekly consumption.
• Conversely, daily consumption of tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes showed an increased association with lung cancer risk.
• Statistical significance was observed for these associations (e.g., kiwis OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.46-0.95; oranges OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.37-0.80).

Conclusions:

• Oranges, kiwis, turnip tops, "berza gallega," and broccoli consumption may offer a protective effect against lung cancer development in never-smokers.
• Tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes, particularly with daily consumption, may be associated with an elevated risk of lung cancer in this demographic.
• Dietary habits, specifically intake of certain fruits and vegetables, are significant factors in lung cancer risk for non-smokers.