London: Carbohydrates, long blamed for fuelling obesity, have now been linked to lung cancer.
A new study has revealed a 49 per cent increase in risk among people consuming a diet with a high glycemic index.
The index measures how quickly blood sugar levels are raised after a meal, and foods with a high GI include white bread or bagels, corn flakes and puffed rice.
However, diets high in fruits and vegetables were found to decrease the risk.
Lead study author Dr Stephanie Melkonian, of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, said: “We observed a 49 per cent increased risk of lung cancer among subjects with the highest daily GI compared to those with the lowest daily GI.
“Diets high in glycemic index result in higher levels of blood glucose and insulin, which promote perturbations in the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs).
“Previous research suggests increased levels of IGFs are associated with increased lung cancer risk.
“However, the association between glycemic index and lung cancer risk was unclear.”
In the UK, there are around 45,525 new cases of the disease diagnosed each year, while 35,371 people lose their life to the disease annually, according to Cancer Research UK.
In the US, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women.
The study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, is the largest ever to investigate the potential link between glycemic index and lung cancer.
Scientists surveyed 1,905 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer and compared the results with 2,413 healthy individuals.
Senior study author Dr Xifeng Wu said: “The associations were more pronounced among subjects who were never smokers, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma or had less than 12 years of education.
“This suggests that it is the average quality, instead of quantity, of carbohydrates consumed that may modulate lung cancer risk.”
In the US, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women.
The study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, is the largest ever to investigate the potential link between glycemic index and lung cancer.
Scientists surveyed 1,905 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer and compared the results with 2,413 healthy individuals.
Senior study author Dr Xifeng Wu said: “The associations were more pronounced among subjects who were never smokers, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma or had less than 12 years of education.
Among smokers, the risk was only elevated by 31 percent between the two groups.
While tobacco use is the leading cause of lung cancer, it fails to account for all cases, particularly in those who never smoked.
Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary factors may modulate lung cancer risk, Wu, noted.
While specific dietary recommendations cannot be made on the basis of these results, the authors suggested limiting foods and beverages with high GI.
Examples of low GI foods include whole-wheat or pumpernickel bread, rolled or steel-cut oatmeal and pasta.
