This post was originally published on this site.
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables was found to have a surprising link tolung canceramong younger non-smokers, early research suggests.
The observational study, led by Jorge Nieva, M.D., of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at Keck Medicine, was presented this month at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in San Diego.It has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Researchers looked at dietary, smoking and demographic data for 187 patients who were diagnosed with lung cancer at age 50 or younger.
PANCREATIC CANCER PATIENT SURVIVAL DOUBLED WITH HIGH DOSE OF COMMON VITAMIN, STUDY FINDS
They found that among non-smokers, there was a link between healthier-than-average diets – rich in fruits, vegetables andwhole grains– and the chance of lung cancer development.
Young lung cancer patients ate more servings of dark green vegetables, legumes and whole grains compared to the average U.S.adult, the researchers found.
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables was found to have a surprising link to lung cancer among younger non-smokers, early research suggests.(iStock)
The researchers hypothesized that pesticides applied toconventionally grown producecould be a possible factor in the disease association.
“Commercially produced (non-organic) fruits, vegetables and whole grains are more likely to be associated with a higher residue of pesticides than dairy, meat and many processed foods,” according to Nieva. He also noted that agricultural workers exposed to pesticides tend to have higher rates of lung cancer.
HIDDEN VIRUS INSIDE GUT BACTERIA LINKED TO DOUBLED COLORECTAL CANCER RISK, STUDY FINDS
“There is a large subset of lung cancer patients whose disease isnot caused by smoking,�
The disease is becoming more common in non-smokers 50 and younger, especially women – despite the fact that smoking rates have been falling for decades, the researcher noted.
The researchers hypothesized that pesticides applied to conventionally grown produce could be a possible factor in the disease association.(iStock)
“These patients tend to have eaten much healthier diets before their diagnosis than the average American,” he went on.“We need to support research into understanding why Americans – andwomen in particular– who no longer smoke very much are still having lung cancer,” he said.
DEATHS FROM ONE TYPE OF CANCER ARE SURGING AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES
The study did have some limitations, Nieva acknowledged, primarily that it relied on survey data and was limited by the participants’ memories of their food intake.
“Also, the survey participants were self-selected, and this could have biased the findings,�
“There is a large subset of lung cancer patients whose disease is not caused by smoking.”
The researchers did not test specific foods for pesticides, relying instead on average pesticide levels for certain types of food.Looking ahead, they plan to test patients’ blood and urine samples to directly measure pesticide levels, Nieva said.
Although the study shows only an association and does not prove that pesticides caused lung cancer, Nieva recommends that people wash their produce before eating and chooseorganic foodswhenever possible.
lung cancer prevention.”
“It is possible that the increased lung cancer risk could be due to pesticide exposure in whole farmed foods, but is by no means certain,” a doctor said.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Dr.�interesting,” but that it “raises far more questions than it answers.”
“It is a small study (around 150) and observational, so no proof,�
pesticide exposurein whole farmed foods, but it is by no means certain,” Siegel went on.“How much exposure is needed?How much of it gets into food and in which areas?This requires much further study.”
onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.
Kayla Nichols, communications director for Pesticide Action &Agroecology Network, a distributed global network, said the organization agrees with the study’s conclusion that more research should be done on the rise in lung cancer, particularly in individuals eating diets higher in produce and fiber.
“There is a large subset of lung cancer patients whose disease is not caused by smoking,�(iStock)
“There is a bounty of existing research that already links pesticide exposure to increased risk ofmultiple types of cancers,�She called for more research on chronic, low-level exposures to pesticides, as well as more effective policies to protect the public from pesticide residues on food.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, as well as industry partners including AstraZeneca and Genentech, among others.
![[aggregator] downloaded image for imported item #45783](https://newsview.top/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/man-worried-using-smartphone-1024x576.jpg "ChatGPT could miss your serious medical emergency, new study suggests")
![[aggregator] downloaded image for imported item #45772](https://newsview.top/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/israel-rabin-medical-center-underground-hospital-3-1024x576.jpg "Missiles above, newborns below: Israeli hospitals shift critical care underground")
![[aggregator] downloaded image for imported item #46075](https://newsview.top/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/man-checking-blood-sugar-1024x576.jpg "Diabetes breakthrough approach could protect cells and prevent disease")
![[aggregator] downloaded image for imported item #46067](https://newsview.top/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/punch-the-monkey-update-1024x576.jpg "Punch the monkey, viral star, experiences dramatic breakthrough among zoo mates")