Lung cancer risk linked to what one eats, according to new study

United News of India

31-07-2025

Rome, July 31 (UNI) A new study suggests that an increased risk of lung cancer may be linked to consumption of ultraprocessed foods.
Ultraprocessed foods contain ingredients 'never or rarely used in kitchens, or classes of additives whose function is to make the final product palatable or more appealing,' according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Those ingredients — found in items such as sodas, chips, packaged soups, chicken nuggets and ice cream — can include preservatives against mold or bacteria, artificial colouring, emulsifiers to stop separation and added or altered sugar, salt and fats to make food more appealing, reports CNN.
People who eat the most ultraprocessed foods are 41 percent more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than those who eat the least, even after accounting for other factors such as smoking, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Thorax.
For this study, researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 people who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's Food Frequency Questionnaire on their dietary habits and compared the information with medical records for lung cancer diagnoses.
It was found that on average, people had nearly three servings a day of ultraprocessed foods, most commonly lunch meat, diet or caffeinated soft drinks, or decaffeinated soft drinks, the study authors wrote.
'Industrial processing alters the food matrix, affecting nutrient availability and absorption, while also generating harmful contaminants,' the researchers pointed.
They particularly highlighted acrolein, which can be derived from burning tobacco, wood, plastics and gasoline and from cooking fats and oils at high temperatures, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study also mentioned that packaging materials may be part of the problem.
Although the study is observational meaning that while the methods were clear and strong, the research still can't definitively prove that the foods cause lung cancer.
Lung cancer is a common form of cancer, with an estimated 2.4 million new cases worldwide in 2022, according to the World Health Organization.
Smoking is the main contributor to lung cancer risk, but people who don't smoke can still get it, which suggests other factors are at play, Katz said.
The authors found that the association between ultra-processed food consumption and lung cancer risk was stronger among never-smokers.
Often, ultraprocessed food consumption is associated with a lower diet quality, such as a higher intake of saturated fats, chemicals, salt and sugar, as well as higher calorie consumption, Katz said.
These factors 'can drive inflammation –– a primary pathway in the development and progression of cancer –– and damage the microbiome, impairing immune system function,' he said
This combination of excess inflammation and impaired immunity creates scenario where cancer begins, he noted.
The study adds lung cancer risk to the list of reasons to avoid ultraprocessed foods and increase diet quality, Katz said.
Health and diet quality improve when people eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods and largely plants such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, he added.
UNI XC SS