Study Explores Why Healthy Young Non-Smokers Are Developing Lung Cancer

Can eating healthy foods ever come with an unexpected risk? A new study from the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that younger adults who have never smoked but eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains than average may have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Researchers stress that healthy foods themselves are not believed to cause cancer. Instead, they suspect that long-term exposure to pesticide residues on conventionally grown produce and grains may partly explain the surprising pattern.

The study analyzed 187 people diagnosed with lung cancer before the age of 50 through the Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer Project. Most participants had never smoked and were diagnosed with a type of lung cancer that differs biologically from smoking-related disease. Their diets were compared with those of the general U.S. population using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI).

Patients had an average HEI score of 65, compared with the national average of 57, indicating healthier overall diets. They also consumed more dark green vegetables, legumes, and whole grains than the average American. Women, who had healthier diets than men in the study, were also more likely to develop lung cancer despite never smoking.

Researchers note that previous studies have linked long-term pesticide exposure among agricultural workers to higher lung cancer rates, supporting the possibility that pesticide exposure, rather than healthy foods, may be involved.

However, the findings do not prove cause and effect. The research team plans to analyze blood and urine samples in future studies to determine whether specific pesticides are associated with lung cancer risk. If confirmed, the findings could help identify new environmental risk factors and improve lung cancer prevention strategies for younger non-smokers.

REFERENCE: Sarah D. Gorbatov, et al.; University of Southern California - Health Sciences. "Why are healthy young non-smokers developing lung cancer?" https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/21436/presentation/1647