High-fat foods and the risk of lung cancer.

We conducted a population-based case-control study of the association of dietary cholesterol and fat with lung cancer between 1983 and 1985 on Oahu, Hawaii. The study population included 226 men and 100 women with lung cancer, and 597 male and 268 female community controls matched for age (+/- 5 years) and sex. There was a positive dose-response relation between the consumption of processed meats (luncheon meats, bacon, sausage), dairy foods (whole milk, regular ice cream), eggs, and particular desserts (fruit pies, custard/cream pies) and the risk of lung cancer in men. We also found a positive trend in the risk of lung cancer in women with increasing intake of some processed meats (bacon, Spam) and desserts (cakes, custard/cream pies). The dose-response relation tended to be stronger among men who were heavy smokers and who were diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the lung. A positive trend in risk was found for nitrite intake in men and dimethylnitrosamine intake in men and women. These data indicate that smokers with a high intake of foods rich in fat and animal protein or who have a preference for cured meats are at increased risk of lung cancer.