Association of Nut Consumption and Lung Cancer Risk in a Large Population‐based Case‐control Study

Abstract

Increased nut consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. No study has examined the association between nut consumption and lung cancer risk. We investigated the association of nut consumption (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, or peanuts) with lung cancer risk in the Environment And Genetics in Lung cancer Etiology (EAGLE), a population‐based case‐control study. Primary lung cancer cases (n=2101) were enrolled within the Lombardy region of Italy and matched (on gender, residence, and age) to randomly selected controls (n=2120). Diet was assessed in 1903 cases and 2073 controls. Multivariable odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sex‐specific quintiles of intake were calculated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusted for putative confounders. Nut consumption was statistically associated with reduced risk of lung cancer (ORQ5‐vs‐Q1=0.73;95% CI:0.57‐0.94) and similar statistically significant associations were observed across histological subtypes. The protective association was strongest among ever smokers who smoked 蠄15 cigarettes per day (ORQ5‐vs‐Q1=0.59,95% CI=0.39‐0.90); no significant association, however, was observed for ever‐smokers who smoked >15 cigarettes per day (ORQ5‐vs‐Q1=0.80,95% CI=0.58‐1.10). In summary, we observed an inverse association between nut consumption and lung cancer risk. Our findings suggest a stronger benefit for light smokers. Further research on this relationship is warranted in prospective cohort studies.