Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Lung Cancer; A Case-Control Study in Iran

Background and Objectives: Dietary patterns may play a role in development of lung cancer; however, study in the Middle Eastern is limited.This study aimed to investigate associations between dietary patterns and lung cancer risks in the region, addressing this study gap. Materials & Methods:A hospital-based case-control study was carried out in two prominent general hospitals in Tehran, Iran.The study included 135 verified lung cancer cases identified through pathological and computed tomography scans and 237 control subjects free from non-neoplastic conditions and chronic dietlinked diseases.Dietary data were collected using 147-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between dietary patterns and lung cancer risks.Results: Two distinct dietary patterns, classified as unhealthy and healthy, emerged from the analysis.After adjusting for confounders, unhealthy dietary pattern was significantly associated with increased risks of lung cancer (OR = 3.95, 95% CI = 2.06-7.85).In contrast, a higher adherence to the healthy dietary patterns was negatively associated to lung cancer risks (OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.14-0.45). Conclusion:This study highlights detrimental effects of an unhealthy dietary pattern on lung cancer risks, while emphasizing protective effects of a healthy dietary pattern.These findings underscore importance of dietary interventions in lung-cancer prevention strategies.