Can Your Diet Help Prevent Lung Cancer? Scientists Explore the Link
For cancers of organs like the liver, the long-term impact of our diet has been well studied-so much so that we have guidance about red meat, wine and other delicacies.
A new study from researchers at University of Florida Health looks at another kind of organ whose cancer risk may be affected by poor diet: the lungs.
Lung cancer has not traditionally been thought of as a dietary-related disease,” said Ramon Sun, Ph.D., an associate professor and director of the UF Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research. “Diseases like pancreatic cancer or liver cancer, yes. However, when it comes to lung cancer, the idea that diet could play a role is rarely discussed.”
The new study borrows from how Lafora unfolds, focusing on glycogen accumulation. This storage molecule, made up of glucose, or a simple sugar, has been found to accumulate in high levels across a variety of cancers and other diseases. Through lab models and computer-guided models of glycogen stores in the lung, the researchers showed that in lung cancer, glycogen acts as an oncogenic metabolite, akin to a “giant lollipop for cancer’s sweet tooth.
The typical Western diet increases glycogen levels and glycogen feeds lung cancer tumors by providing their building blocks for growth. Glycogen is an “exceptionally good predictor” of tumor growth and death in lung cancer patients, Sun said.
Although it’s one of the first instances of lung cancer being linked to diet, it is far from the first time nutrition has been a focal point in cancer prevention and intervention.
The researchers concluded that prioritizing a nutrient-rich diet, maintaining an active lifestyle and minimizing alcohol intake are foundational strategies for long-term health. Fostering better dietary habits can be a powerful tool in lung cancer prevention.”
Ref: Clarke, H.A., Hawkinson, T.R., Shedlock, C.J. et al. Glycogen drives tumour initiation and progression in lung adenocarcinoma. Nat Metab (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01243-8
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