Modification Role of Dietary Antioxidants in the Association of High Red Meat Intake and Lung Cancer Risk: Evidence from a Cancer Screening Trial

Evidence on the association between red meat consumption and lung cancer risk is weak. This study examined the associations between red meat and lung cancer across levels of antioxidant intake from foods or supplements. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to assess hazard ratios (HRs) for lung cancer incidence in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial. Baseline food frequency questionnaires measured red meat and antioxidant intake. The food-based Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (fCDAI) evaluated the overall natural intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, and selenium. During 13 years of follow-up, 95,647 participants developed 1599 lung cancer cases. Higher red meat consumption was associated with a higher risk of lung cancer (HR