A study found that the Western diet, rich in salt, sugar, and fat, can increase lung cancer risk. Past research links poor diet to liver and pancreatic cancers, highlighting the importance of long-term dietary impact. While lung cancer isn’t typically associated with diet, Ramon Sun, Associate Professor at the University of Florida, suggests the need to consider dietary influence on the disease.
Sun noted the rarity of diet’s discussion in relation to lung cancer, contrasting with the attention given to pancreatic and liver cancer. The study in Nature Metabolism focused on glycogen, a glucose-based storage molecule. High glycogen levels were discovered across various cancers. In lung cancer, researchers found that glycogen functions as an oncogenic metabolite. This was likened to a “giant lollipop for cancer’s sweet tooth” through experiments using lab and computer models of glycogen stores in the lung.
The higher glycogen levels in cancer cells lead to larger and more aggressive tumor growth. A Western diet rich in fat and fructose increased glycogen in mice, causing lung tumors to grow. Lowering glycogen levels slowed tumor growth. This diet boosts glycogen, fueling lung cancer development.
Glycogen is a key predictor of lung cancer outcomes, Sun emphasized. Public awareness and policy changes for healthier diets are needed, similar to anti-smoking efforts. Prioritizing a nutritious diet, staying active, and limiting alcohol are crucial for long-term health, the team added.
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