High fiber, yogurt diet associated with lower lung cancer risk

A diet high in fiber and yogurt may reduce the risk for lung cancer, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology. The benefits of a diet high in fiber and yogurt have already been established for cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal cancer. The new findings based on an analysis of data from studies involving 1.4 million adults in the United States, Europe, and Asia suggest this diet may also protect against lung cancer.

Participants were divided into five groups, according to the amount of fiber and yogurt they consumed. Those with the highest yogurt and fiber consumption had a 33% reduced lung cancer risk as compared to the group who did not consume yogurt and consumed the least amount of fiber.

“Our study provides strong evidence supporting the U.S. 2015–2020 Dietary Guideline recommending a high fiber and yogurt diet,” said senior author Xiao-Ou Shu, Ingram professor of cancer research, associate director for global health, and co-leader of the Cancer Epidemiology Research Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. “This inverse association was robust, consistently seen across current, past, and never smokers, as well as men, women, and individuals with different backgrounds.”

Shu said the health benefits may be rooted in their prebiotic (nondigestible food that promotes growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines) and probiotic properties. The properties may independently or synergistically modulate gut microbiota in a beneficial way.

Abstract