Impact of Fiber -Enriched Diet and Lung Cancer

 5.4. Fibers-Enriched Diet

Fruit, vegetables and certain components of

 plant foods, such as fiber, are associated with a reduction in systemic inflammation, obesity and metabolic syndrome, even after adjustment for important confounding variables [91].

 In addition, high fiber intake has long been thought to protect against several types of cancer [92]. 

The mechanisms for those various health benefits seem to be linked to the modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolic pathways that fibers can induce [93].

 Fiber intake is inversely associated with lung cancer risk after adjustment for status and pack-years of smoking and other lung cancer risk factors in 1,445,850 adults from studies that were conducted in the United States, Europe, and Asia [94]. 

Similarly, Miller et al. studied data from 478,021 individuals included in the EPIC study, and recruited from 10 European countries and who completed a dietary questionnaire [95]. 

After adjustment for age, smoking, height, weight and gender, there was a significant inverse association between fruit consumption and lung cancer risk in lung cancer patients. The association was strongest among current smokers at baseline [95].

Considering subtypes of lung cancer, Büchner et al., 2010 observed an inverse association between the consumption of fibers and risk of lung cancer without a clear effect on specific histological subtypes of lung cancer [96].

On the other hand, considering different sources of fibers, Bradbury et al., 2014 reported that the risk of cancer of the lung was inversely associated with fruit intake but was not associated with vegetable intake [97]; 

however, this association with fruit intake is restricted to smokers. In accordance with this data, Büchner et al. analyzed the effects of fruits and vegetables during a follow-up of 1830 incident cases of lung cancer; a 100 g/day increase in fruit and vegetables consumption was associated with a reduced lung cancer risk [96]. 

 In addition, different sources of fibers do not alter positive effects, as demonstrated by Baldrick et al. that found beneficial effects in ex/smokers following a diet with high intake of fibers from legumes through anti-inflammatory mechanisms [98].

An association has been also found between total fiber intake and decreased COPD risk suggesting a beneficial impact on general lung health [99,100].

Ref

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 1;18(5):2399. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052399

Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Microbiota: Which Impact on Lung Cancer?

Ersilia Nigro 1,2, Fabio Perrotta 3, Filippo Scialò 2,4, Vito D’Agnano 3, Marta Mallardo 1,2, Andrea Bianco 2,4,*, Aurora Daniele 1,2,*

Editor: Dagrun Engeset